F  I  K  S  T     DAY     AT     SCHOOL. 


THE 


PIONEER    BOY, 


HOW  HE  BECAME  PRESIDENT. 


WILLIAM  M.  THAYER, 

AUTHOR  OF  "THK  BOBBIN  BOY,"  "THB  PRINTER  BOY,"  "THK  POO»  BOV 

AND  MERCHANT  PRINCE,"   "WORKING  AND  WINNING," 

"TALES  FROM  GENESIS  IN  TWO  VOLUMES,"  ETC. 


THIRTY-FIRST   THOUSA.XD. 


BOSTON: 
H.    B.    FULLER    AND     COMPANY, 

SUCCESSORS   TO  WALKER,  FULLER,  &   COMPANY, 

1867. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863,  by 

WALKER,   WISE.   AND    COMPANY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  ot  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


GIFT 


Tresswork  by  John  Wilson  and  Son. 


'57 
,<? 

Tvas 


PREFACE. 


THAT  a  boy,  reared  in  a  fioorless  log-cabin  of 
the  West  to  twenty-one  years  of  age,  should 
work  his  way,  by  dint  of  perseverance,  into  the 
legal  profession,  and  finally  become  President  of 
the  United  States,  is  a  fact  of  sufficient  importance 
to  justify  the  inquiry,  how  it  was  done.  This 
humble  volume  answers  that  question,  by  telling 
the  story  of  his  early  life,  and  pointing  out  the 
elements  of  his  success.  The  imagination  has  done 
no  more  than  connect  facts  gathered  from  authen 
tic  sources. 

While  the  chief  object  of  the  book  is  to  show 
how  its  hero  won  his  position,  it  brings  out,  inci 
dentally,  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  times  and 
section  of  the  country  in  which  he  was  reared. 

The  author  has  intentionally  avoided  the  provin- 

MB52379 


IV  PREFACE. 

cialisms,  and  that  singular  perversion  of  the  English 
language,  that  characterized  the  poor  people  of 
Kentucky  and  Indiana  forty  years  ago. 

Real  names  are  generally  used  in  the  work.  In 
some  instances,  however,  where  objections  to  such  a 
use  seemed  to  exist,  fictitious  names  are  employed. 

To  the  persons,  residing  in  five  different  States, 
who  have  promptly  and  cordially  assisted  the  au 
thor,  during  the  past  year,  in  collecting  materials 
for  the  work,  he  gratefully  records  his  thanks. 

W.  M.  T. 


CONTENTS. 


I. 

First  Day  at  School 17 

THE  SCENE. — ABRAHAM  LEARNING  TO  READ. — CONVERSATION  OF 
HIS  PARENTS  ABOUT  SLAVEUT.  —  HIS  FATHER'S  EARLY  LIFE. — VALUE 
OF  PENMANSHIP.  —  WHERE  THE  SCENE  OCCURRED.  —  THE  LINCOLN 
FAMILY.  —  A  REMARKABLE  MOTHER. — A  COMMON-SENSE  FATHER. — 
ABRAHAM  SEVEN  YEARS  OLD.  —  HAZEL  HIS  TEACHER. —  DILWORTH'S 
SPELLING-BOOK,  AND  THE  BIBLE.  —  ABRAHAM'S  GRANDFATHER  KILLED 
BY  THE  INDIANS.  —  HOW  IT  HAPPENED.  —  THE  SAD  CONDITION  OF 
THE  FAMILY  AFTER  HIS  DEATH.  —  DANIEL  BOONE'S  EXPERIENCE  WITH 
THE  INDIANS. — THREE  LITTLE  GIRLS  CAPTURED  BY  THE  INDIANS. — 
ADVICE  ABOUT  READING. 


II. 

The  Neighbor's  Call 31 

THE  ERRAND.  —  THE  CURSE  OF  SLAVERY  TO  THE  POOR  WHITES. — 
8ELBY,  A  DEGRADED  WHITE.  —  HIS  VIEWS  OF  KNOWLEDGE. — LIN 
COLN'S  RESOLVE  TO  REMOVE  TO  FREE  INDIANA. — SELBY'S  INFIDEL 
ITY. —  MRS.  LINCOLN'S  REGARD  FOB  THE  BIBLE.  —  THREE  THINGS 
THAT  SELBY'S  CHARACTER  TAUGHT  ABRAHAM:  NOT  TO  SWEAR,  EVII 
OF  IGNORANCE,  AND  THE  MISERY  OF  INTEMPERANCE.  —  HOW  POOR 
WHITES  SOMETIMES  INTERFERE  WITH  SLAVES.  —  AN  INCIDENT. — MR, 
LINCOLN'S  VIEWS  OF  THE  EVILS  OF  SLAVERY  CORRECT. 


vi  CONTENTS. 

III. 

A  Brighter  Prospect 40 

HOW  ABRAHAM  SUCCEEDS  AT  SCHOOL.  —  THE  REPORT  OF  HAZEL.  — 
ABRAHAM'S  SUDDEN  ENTRANCE.  —  COLBY'S  ARRIVAL.  —  TALK  ABOUT 
SELLING  THE  PLACE.  —  TIME  FOR  ANOTHER  INTERVIEW.  —  BOTH  OF 
THEM  POOR.  —  PRICE  OF  THE  FARM.  —  CONCLUSIONS  OF  MR.  AND  MRS. 
LINCOLN.  — ABRAHAM  CONTINUES  AT  SCHOOL.  —  CALL  OF  PARSON 
ELKINS.  —  THEIR  CONVERSATION. —  ABRAHAM  A  PIONEER  BOY. — 
SLAVERY  AGAIN.  —  MRS.  LINCOLN'S  SABBATH  INSTRUCTIONS. 

IY. 

The  Sabbath  Lesson 50 

SABBATH  MORNING.  —  THE  BIBLE  A  SUNDAY  TEXT-BOOK.  —  STORY 
OF  MOSES,  AND  COMMENTS  THEREON.  —  STORY  OF  JOSEPH,  AND  RE 
MARKS.  —  THE  STORY  OF  THE  CROSS.  —  QUESTIONS  OF  THE  CHILDREN. 
—  THE  THIRD  COMMANDMENT.  —  THE  FOURTH  COMMANDMENT.  — THB 
FIFTH  COMMANDMENT.  —  THE  NINTH  COMMANDMENT.  —  COMMENTS 
THEHEON. — THAT  FAMILY  BIBLE,  ITS  INFLUENCE.  — PRAYER,  AND 
ABRAHAM  TAUGHT  TO  PRAY.  —  HIS  PRECOCIOUS  INQUIRIES. —  THE 
LINCOLN  CABIN  A  LIGHT  IN  THAT  REGION. — GREAT  MEN  HAVE  GOOD 
MOTHERS.  —  MOTHER  OF  RANDOLPH.  —  MOTHER  OF  JOHN  QUINCY 
ADAMS.  —  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON.  —  THB  MOTHER  OF  ABRAHAM 
LINCOLN. 

V. 
The  Sale 63 

THE  FALL  OF  1816.  —  THE  PURCHASER  COMES. — PRICE  OF  THE 
PLACE.  —  PROPOSES  TO  PAY  FOR  IT  WITH  WHISKEY.  —  A  DISCUSSION 
ABOUT  IT.  —  HOW  TO  CARRY  IT  AND  WHERE  TO  TURN  IT  INTO  MONEY.  — 
LINCOLN  CONSULTS  HIS  WIFE.  —  CONCLUDES  TO  TAKK  IT.  —  THE  PRICE 
PBK  GALLON.  —  THE  QUANTITY.  —  THE  iJARGALN  CLOSED.  —  TUB  Ajf- 


CONTEXTS.  Vii 

FAIK  REVIEWED. — TEMPERANCE  PRINCIPLES  THEN.  —  TEMPER  A.NCB 
PRINCIPLES  NOW.  —  PURPOSES  TO  MOVE  ON  A  FLAT-BOAT.  —  ABRAHAM 
MUST  HELP.  —  LIVE  ONK  MILE  FROM  THE  ROLLING  FORK,. 

VI. 

Pulling  up  Stakes 72 

ARRANGEMENTS  TO  MOVE.  —  VISIT  OF  PARSON  ELKINS. —  ON  THE 
RIVER.  —  ABRAHAM'S  AXE.  —  HOW  LONG  TO  BE  GONE — PUSHES  INTO 
THE  STREAM.  —  AN  ACCIDKNT.  — UPSETS  IN  THE  RIVER.  —  MEN  COME 
TO  HIS  RKSCUE.  —  EFFORTS  TO  RIGHT  THE  BOAT  AND  SAVE  THE  CARGO. 

—  LOSES  MOST   OK   THE  WHISKEY.  —  LEARNS  WAY  TO   GO.  —  LANDS   AT 

THOMPSON'S  FERRY.  —  POSEY  MOVES  HIS  GOODS — CUTTING  A  ROAD 
THROUGH  THE  WOODS.  —  THEY  COME  TO  A  CABIN.  —  REACH  DESTINA 
TION. —  LEFT  HIS  GOODS  AND  RETURNED  FOR  TTTS  FAMILY. —  TAKES 
THKM  ON  HORSES. — A  SEVEN  DAYS'  JOURNKY. —  FEMALKS  NOT  TIMLD 
THEN.  —  MRS.  DA  VIES  AND  THE  INDIANS.  —  MRS.  MERRILL'S  COURAGE. 

—  MRS.  LLNCOLN  BRAVE. 

VII. 

The  Pioneer  Boy 85 

CALLED  BY  HIS  FATHER.  —  HIS  FIRST  WORK.  —  ITIS  FATHER  SHOOTS 
A  TURKEY.  —  PROMISE  THAT  ABRAHAM  SHALL  FIRE.  — GAME  PLENTY. 

—  CUTTING  LOGS  FOR  HOUSE,  AND   MR.  NEALE   AIDS.  —  DESCRIPTION  OF 

THE  LOG-HOUSE.  —  HOW  THEY  MADE  A  BEDSTEAD.  —  MAKING  A  TABLB 
AND  STOOLS.  —  HOW  IT  WAS  DONE.  —  RAPID  WORK.  —  THE  LOFT  ABOVE, 
ABRAHAM'S  PARLOR  CHAMBER,  —  THIS  VIEW  OF  HIS  HOME. 


VIII. 

•* 

The  Grist-MiU 95 

NEEDED  BULLS  TO  GRIND.  —  HOW  ABRAHAM  AND  HIS   FATHER  MADB 
A  MILL.  —  CUTTING  THE  LOG.  —  BURNING  HOLE  IN  IT.  —  A  8PRLNG-POLB 


viii  CONTENTS. 

AND  PESTLE.  —  EIGHTEEN  MILES  TO  MILL.  —  THE  VALUE  OF  THE  MILL. 
—  ABRAHAM  STILL  LEARNING.  —  GOOD  LESSONS  AND  THE  BIBLE.  —  HE 
LONGS  FOR  OTHER  BOOKS.  —  READ  BY  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  FIRE,  AS  TOO 
POOR  TO  HAVE  CANDLES.  —  PROSPECTS  NOT  VERY  BRIGHT. 


IX. 

The  Lucky  Shot 104 

SPRING  COMES. —  SOWING  SEED. — THE  WHISKEY  AGAIN.  —  WAS  IT 
BEST  TO  LOSE  IT?  DISCUSSION  ABOUT  IT.  —  I'LL  TRY,  AND  WHAT  IT 
HAS  DONE.  —  ABRAHAM  FIRES  AT  A  TURKEY  AND  KILLS  IT.  — ACCOUNT 
OF  GOOD  MARKSMEN.  —  DRIVING  NAILS  BY  FIRING.  —  SNUFFING  A 
CANDLE.  —  SHOOTING  NOT  A  PASTIME. — HIS  PHYSICAL  CULTURE  AND 
COURAGE.  —  CONCLUSION. 


X. 
Sorrow 112 

HIS  MOTHER  SICK.  —  ABRAHAM  AWAKED.  —  MRS.  BRUNER  SENT  FOR, 
—  ABRAHAM'S  LOVE  AND  ANXIETY. —  REMEDIES  APPLIED.  —  WORD 
BENT  TO  MRS.  GRANGER.  —  HER  WILLINGNESS  TO  DIE.  —  HER  WORDS  TO 
ABRAHAM.  —  HER  DEATH. — PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  FUNERAL'.  — 
SPOT  FOR  GRAVE  CHOSEN.  —  NO  MINISTER  TO  OFFICIATE.  —  TESTIMONY 
OF  HER  WORTH.  —  SYMPATHY  FOR  ABRAHAM.  —  HER  GRAVE  A 

TEACHER, 


XI. 

Going  up  Higher 124 

THE  CHANGE.  —  PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS  BORROWED.  —  ABRAHAM'S 
DELIGHT.  —  A  PRESENT  OF  JESOP'S  FABLES.  —  BOTH  RE-READ.  —  COM 
MITS  THE  FABLES  TO  MEMORY.  —  DENNIS  HANKS.  —  LEARNING  TO 


CONTEXTS.  ix 

WPTTK. —  HIS  PROGRESS.  —  HIS  ENTHUSIASM.  — -WRITING  ON  SLABS, 
STOOLS,  AND  THE  GROUND. — STUDY  INTERFERES  WITH  WORK. —  HIS 
FATHER'S  CENSURE.  —  READS  WEEM'S  LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON.  — WRITES 
HIS  NAME  ON  THE  GROUND.  —  LIKJE  PASCAL.  —  LIKE  DAVID  WILKLK.  — 
HOW  BOYS  GO  UP  HIGHER, 


XII. 

The  Letter  and  Visitor        .         .        .         .137 

ABRAHAM'S   FIRST  LETTER.  —  WHAT  WAS   IN  IT.  —  HIS  FATHER'S 
JOT  OVER  IT. — WILL  PARSON  ELKINS  COME? — TALK  ABOUT   THE 

LETTER.  — OTHERS  COME  TO  GET  HIM  TO  WRITE  LETTERS  FOR  THEM.  — 
THE  NEXT  THREE  MONTHS.  —  ABRAHAM  SEES   PARSON   ELKINS  COMING. 

—  INTERVIEW  WITH  ABRAHAM  AND  HIS  FATHER.  — THE  FUNERAL  SER 
MON  AT  THE  GRAVE.  —  THE  ASSEMBLY.  —  IMPRESSION  ON  ABRAHAM. — 
HIS  TROUBLE  ABOUT  THE   RESURRECTION.  —  HIS   DESIRE  TO   KNOW  THE 
WHY  AND  WHEREFORE.  — HIS  PRECOCITY  AND  CRITICISM  OF   SERMONS. 

—  MORE   ABOUT    PIONEER    PREACHERS.  —  THE   ONE    WHO    REFUSED    A 
TITLE-DEED.  —  HENRY   BIDLEMAN   BASCOM.  —  ACCOUNT  OF   HIS   MINIS 
TERS.  —  PULPIT  INFLUENCE. 


XIII. 

At  School  Again        .         .         .         .         .154 

A  YEAR  MORE.  —  HIS  FATHER  MARRIED  AGAIN. — WARM  GREETING 
FOR  HIS  STEP-MOTHER.  —  TALK  ABOUT  SCHOOL. — BUCKSKIN  SUIT  OF 
CLOTHES.  — GOES  TO  MR.  CRAWFORD  TO  SCHOOL.  —  GETS  ON  A  STUMP 
AND  REPEATS  A  SERMON.  —  HIS  HABIT  OF  CLOSE  ATTENTION.  —  MR. 
CRAWFORD  SAW  IT.  —  DR.  CHALMERS.  —  THE  ENGLISH  STATESMAN. — 
MR.  CRAWFORD'S  OPINION  OF  THE  BOY.  —  TALK  WITH  MR,  LINCOLN.  — 
CONFESSING  HIS  ERRORS.  —  LIKK  WASHINGTON  CUTTING  THE  CHERRY- 
TREE.  —  SEE  MATERNAL  INFLUENCE.  —  WRITING  A  LETTER  FOR  A 
NEIGHBOR.  —  WORDS  OF  ANOTHER  ABOUT  HIM. 


X  CONTENTS. 

XIV. 
Still  at  School 165 

KEEPING  ALONG  HIS  ARITHMETIC.  —  ERRAND  FOR  HIS  MOTHER,  AND 
FOREGOES  PLEASURES  TO  PERFORM  IT.  —  OVERTAKES  DAVID.  —  HI9 
PUNCTUALITY.  —  PROTESTS  AGAINST  CRUELTY  TO  ANIMALS.  —  HIS  TEN- 
D!-;K  FEELINGS.  —  THE  RULE  OF  THREE,  AND  HOW  HE  GOT  ALONG  WITH 
IT.  —  A  DIFFICULTY  BETWEEN  JOHN  AND  DANIEL.  —  ITS  PROGRESS.  — 
ABRAHAM  A  "  PEACEMAKER."  —  SETTLING  DIFFICULTIES.  —  END  OF 
SCHOOL-DAYS.  —  LIFE  OF  HENRY  CLAY,  AND  ITS  INFLUENCE  ON  HLM  — 

REMARKS. 

XV. 

A  Trial  and  Treasure         .  '      .         .         .174 

ABRAHAM'S  VIEW  OF  WASHINGTON.  —  RAMSAY'S  LIFE  OF  WASHING 
TON.  —  WAY  TO  BORROW  IT.  —  SUCCEEDS  IN  GETTING  IT.  —  THE  IN 
TERVIEW. —  MANLY  CONSIDERATION  ABOUT  PRESERVING  IT.  — THE 
STORM,  AND  THE  BORROWED  BOOK  WET.  —  NOT  ASHAMED  TO  DO  RIGHT. 
—  RETURNS  THE  BOOK  AND  PROFFERS  PA.Y.  —  AGREES  TO  CUT  CORN 
TO  PAY  FOR  IT.  —  MR.  CRAWFORD'S  OPINION  OF  THE  BOY.  — WORKS 
THREE  DAYS  TO  PAY  FOR  THE  BOOK.  —  CARRIES  IT  HOME.  — HIS 
HONORABLE  AND  HONEST  CONDUCT  AN  EXAMPLE  FOR  BOYS. 


XVI. 

EiyJdcen  Years  Old 188 

WHAT  HE  IS  AT  EIGHTEEN.  —  HIS  LIBRARY,  TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED  LIFE 
OF  FRANKLIN  AND  PLUTARCH'S  LIVES.  —  HIS  FAIR  REPUTATION. — A 
HOUSE-RAISING.  —  ABRAHAM  GOES.  —  HIS  FATHER  GOES  TO  MARKET. 
—  A  "TRUCK-WAGON."  —  MARKET  WHERE?  —  COMING  HOME  FROM 
HOUSE-RAISING. —  OLD  MYE£S  IN  THE  DITCH  DRUNK.  —  THEY  CARRY 


CONTENTS.  XI 

HIM  TO  DALE'S.  —  ABRAHAM  STAYS  ALL  NIGHT  WITH  HIM. — AN  IL 
LUSTRATION  OF  HIS  KINDNESS  OF  HEAKT.  —  DEATH  OF  HIS  SISTER.— 
ONE  MORE  EVENT. 

XVII. 

Trip  to  Nev)  Orleans          .         .         . '        .197 

INTERVIEW  WITH  I'ETERS  ABOUT  TRIP  TO  NEW  ORLEANS.  —  SEES 
HIS  FATHER.  —  BARGAIN  TO  GO.— MR.  PETERS'S  ELDEST  SON.  — 
ABRAHAM'S  DKLIGHT. — ACCOUNT  OF  FLAT-BOATMEN.  — CARGOES 
CARRIED  ON  FLAT-BOATS.  —  HOW  MERCHANTS  TRADED  THEN.  — 
THE  TRIP  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  MILES.  —  HIS  FATHER'S  FEELINGS. — 
COMMENCES  THE  VOYAGE.  —  CONVERSATIONS  WITH  HIS  COMPANION  ON 
TIIK  WAY.  —  TIED  UP  BOAT  AT  NIGHT.  — A  THRILLING  SCENE.  —  FIGHT 
WITH  NEGROES  WHO  ATTEMPT  TO  MURDER  THEM.  —  THE  NEGROES 
DRIVEN  OFF.  —  A  SUCCESSFUL  TRIP.  — ASCRIBED  TO  ABRAHAM'S  TACT, 
JUDGMENT,  AND  FIDELITY. 

XVIII. 

Removal  to  Illinois 212 

NEWS  FROM  ILLINOIS.  —  HANKS  SENT  TO  RECONNOITRE.  —  TWO 
YEARS  BEFORE  THEY  DECIDE.  —  THREE  FAMILIES  AND  TWELVE  PER 
SONS  TO  GO- — ABRAHAM  FREE,  BUT  STILL  A  FAITHFUL  SON. — HOW 
PEOPLE  MOVED  THEN,  A  DESCRIPTION.  —  TWO  HUNDRED  MILES  TO  GO. 

—  THEY   START.  —  HOW  THEY   CROSS   KASKASKIA   RIVER.  —  ENERGY. — 
FIFTEEN    DAYS  ON  THE  JOURNEY. — WHERE  THEY    SETTLE.  —  BUILD   A 
LOG-HOUSE.  —  PLANT     TEN     ACRES     OF    CORN.  —  ABRAHAM     SPLITTING 
RAILS   TO   FENCE.  —  THESE   ARE   THE   RAILS   OF   WHICH    SO    MUCH   HAS 
BEEN  SAID.  —  LOUIS  PHILIPPE.  —  THE  WINTER  OF  THE  "  GREAT  SNOW." 

—  HOW  ABRAHAM   SAVED  THE  FAMILY   FROM  SUFFERING. 

XIX. 

Nciv  Friends 222 

LEAVING  HOME.  —  HIS  FEELINGS.  —  HIS  PARENTS'  FEELINGS.  — 
LABORS  FOR  ONE  ARMSTRONG.  —  STUDIES  HIS  LEISURE  MOMENTS.  — 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

WHAT  ARMSTRONG  THINKS  OF  HIM.  —  PROPOSITION  TO  GIVE  HIM  A 
HOME  THERE.  —  ABRAHAM'S  HONESTY  AGAIN.  —  HOW  IT  WON  THB 
PEOPLE  NEAR  PETERSBURG.  —  CHOSEN  JUDGE  BY  BOTH  CONTENDING 
PARTIES.  —  HOW  HE  CAME  TO  BE  CALLED  "  HONEST  ABE."  —  STUDYING 
IN  ARMSTRONG  CABIN  IN  WINTER. — BUYS  SOME  BOOKS.  —  STUDIES 
ARITHMETIC.  —  GOOD  NEWS  FOR  ABRAHAM.  —  AGREES  TO  GO  ON  FLAT- 
BOAT  TO  NEW  ORLEANS.  —  BIDS  ARMSTRONG  ADIEU.  —  HIS  GRATITUDE. 

—  HIS  SUCCESS.  —  HIRED  TO  TAKE  CARE  OF  A  STORE  AND  MILL  IN  NEW 
SALEM. 

XX. 

A  Merchant's  Clerk 231 

HIS  IMPORTANCE  IN  THE  PLACE.  —  DREW  A  CIRCLE  AROUND  HIM.  — 
INSTANCE  OF  HONEST  DEALING.  —  DOES  BUSINESS  AS  IF  IT  WAS  HIS 
OWN.  —  HIS  STORY-TELLING*  POWERS  AND  KNOWLEDGE  OF  HISTORY. 

—  CONFIDENCE  IN  HIM,  AND  THE  REASON  FOR  IT.  —  WORDS  FROM  MER 
CHANT'S    MAGAZINE. —  STUDYING     GRAMMAR.  —  DISCUSSION     WITH    A 
COMPANION    ABOUT    IT.  —  MASTERS   IT    IN   HIS   LEISURE   HOURS.  —  FUR 
THER  DISPUTE  WITH  HIS  COMPANION.  —  RICHARD  YATES.  —  NEIGHBORS 
TOOK   FRIENDS   TO  VISIT  HIM.  —  DINNER,  AND  THE  BOWL   OF   MILK   UP- 
BET. —  ABRAHAM'S  UNWILLINGNESS  TO   MAKE  TROUBLE.  —  AIDED  i» 

GRAMMAR  BY  W.  GREENE.  —  LIKE  ALEXANDER  MURRAY.  —  REMARKS 


XXI. 

Captain  in  the  Black-Hawk  War         .         .245 

THE  BLACK-HAWK  WAR  BREAKS  OUT.  —  ABRAHAM  THE  FIRST  TO  EN 
LIST. —  TALK  WITH  HIS  COMPANION.  —  DESIRE  TO  RAISE  A  WHOLE 
COMPANY  IN  NEW  SALEM.  —  THEY  GET  THE  PRIVILEGE.  —  THE  COM 
PANY  RAISED.  —  CHOICE  OF  OFFICERS.  —  SECRET  PLAN  TO  MAKE  ABRA 
HAM  CAPTAIN.  —  ITS  SUCCESS.  —  HIS  SURPRISE. — A  SCENE. — ABRA 
HAM  LIFTS  A  BARREL  OF  WHISKEY.  —  WHY  HE  DOES  IT.  —  HIS  TEM 
PERANCE  PRINCIPLES.  —  THE  EVENING  AFTER,  AND  GREENE'S  PROMISE 
TO  ABRAHAM  NOT  TO  BET  AGAIN  OR  GAMBLE.  —  THE  COMPANY  OFF  TO 
WAR.  —  TIME  UP,  AND  ABRAHAM  RE-ENLISTS  TWICE.  —  HIS  EFFICIENCY 
AND  COURAGE  IN  THE  ARMY. 


CONTENTS.  xiii 

XXII. 
Plans  and  Progress 254 

HIS  RETURN.  —  PROPOSAL  TO  SEND  HIM  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE.  —  IN 
TERVIEW  WITH  A  FRIEND  ABOUT  IT.  —  DISCUSSION  WITH  OLDER  PER 
SONS.  —  A  "  CLAY  MAN."  — NOT  ELECTED,  YET  A  TRIUMPH.  —  DECIDES 
TO  SETTLE  IN  NEW  SALEM.  —  BUYS  STORE  AND  SELLS  AGAIN.  —  CON 
VERSATION  ABOUT  BECOMING  A  LAWYER,  AND  HIS  OBJECTIONS.  — 
STUDIES  SURVEYING  WITH  CALHOUN.  —  BECOMES  A  GOOD  SURVEYOR. 
—  BUSINESS  PLENTY.  —  WORKS  AT  IT  STEADILY  A  YEAE. 


XXIII. 

Success  and  its  Results      .         .         .         .265 

THE  SUMMER  OF  1834.  —  LINCOLN  A  CANDIDATE  FOR  REPRESENTA 
TIVE. —  HIS  POPULARITY.  —  TALK  ABOUT  POLITICIANS.  —  HIS  MOD 
ESTY.  —  HIS  ELECTION.  —  SCENE  AFTERWARDS.  —  REFUSES  TO  TREAT 
HIS  COMPANIONS  WITH  STRONG  DRINK.  — HIS  DECISION. —  GOING  TO 

LEGISLATURE.  —  INTERVIEW  WITH  HON.  J.  T.  STUART  ABOUT  STUDYING 
LAW.  —  HIS  ADVICE  AND  OFFER  OF  BOOKS.  —  FACTS  PRESENTED. — 
HENRY  CLAY'S  EARLY  LIFE.  —  THE  RESULT. 


XXIV. 

Working  and  Winning        ....    274 

THE  NEWS.  —  WHAT  PEOPLE  THOUGHT  OF  HIS  STUDYING  LAW.  —  HI3 
VIEWS  OF  ECONOMY  OF  TIME.  —  DECLINES  GOING  TO  A  PARTY.  — 
WALKS  TWENTY-TWO  MILES  FOR  HIS  LAW-BOOKS.  —  BLACKSTONE'S 
COMMENTARIES  IN  FOUR  VOLUMES  CARRIED  TWENTY-TWO  MILES. — 
EXAMINED  IN  FIKST  VOLUME,  STUDIED  WHEN  WALKING.  —  DEVO 
TION  TO  STUDY. —  HIS  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  IGNORANT  FARMER.  — A 
PLACE  FOR  LAWYERS.  —  GIVES  UP  PARTIES  AND  PLEASURES.  —  ENJOYS 
STUDY  BEST.  —  REASON  OF  IT.  —  ARCHIMEDES. —  PROFESSOR  HAYNES. 
—  MADE  RAPID  PROGRESS,  WORKED  AND  WON.  —  ONE  MORE  SCENE. 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

XXV. 

The  Tragedy 288 

A  MAN  KILLED.  —  EXCITEMENT.  —  DONE  IN  A  DRUNKEN  MELEE  AT  A 
CAMP-MEETING.  —  ARREST  OF  JOE  ARMSTRONG.  —  TIDINGS  TRAVEL 
TO  HIS  NATIVE  PLACE.  —  HIS  FORMER  LIFE,  AND  GENERAL  CENSURE. 

—  HIS  MOTHER'S  GRIEF.  —  KINDNESS   OF  MR.  JONES.  —  EFFORT  TO  GET- 
COUNSEL.  —  LETTER    FROM     ABRAHAM     LINCOLN.  —  HOPE    REVIVES.  — • 

LINCOLN'S  EFFORT  TO  DELAY  TRIAL  TILL  EXCITEMENT  is  OVER.  —  UN 
RAVELS   A   CONSPIRACY.  —  TIME    OF    THE  TRIAL.  —  WITNESSES   EXAM- 

IM-:D.  —  A  PERJURER.  —  ins  EXPOSURE.  —  LINCOLN'S  ELOQUENT  PLEA. 

—  CARRIES    THE     CROWD.  —  ARMSTRONG   NOT   GUILTY.  —  HIS    MOTHER 
OVERCOME.  —  GRATITUDE  TO  LINCOLN.  —  CASE  OF  ALEXANDER  H.  STK- 
PHENS.  —  LINCOLN   A   PATRIOT. 

XXVI. 
Conclusion 306 

ItOW  FAR  TRACED  HIS  LIFE. — HIS  LIFE  SINCE  THAT  PERIOD. — 
FOUNDATION  OF  CHARACTER  LAID  IN  CHILDHOOD. — MATERNAL  INFLU 
ENCE.  —  ENERGY,  PERSEVERANCE,  AND  DECISION.  —  DOING  THINGS 
WELL.  —  HABITS  OF  STUDY.  —  SELF-CONTROL.  —  NOT  ABOVE  HIS  BUSI 
NESS.  —  INFLUENCE  OF  ANCESTORS.  —  OPPOSITION  TO  SLAVERY.  —  HIS 
LIBRARY.  —  HIS  HONESTY  AGAIN.  —  TESTIMONY  OF  ONE  WHO  KNOWS. 

—  THE  MAN  WHAT  THE  BOY  WAS. 


THE  PIONEEE  BOY, 


i. 

FIEST  DAY  AT  SCHOOL. 

A  BRIGHT  spring  morning,  flooding  hill  and 
valley  with  its  golden  light,  an  old  log-house 
with  its  humble  tenants  at  the  door,  and  the  hero  of 
our  volume  starting  forth  to  receive  his  first  lesson 
at  school,  is  the  scene  that  opens  to  our  view. 

"  A  great  day  for  you,  my  boy,"  said  his  mother  ; 
"  it  Js  better  than  silver  and  gold  to  know  how  to 
read." 

"Do  the  best  you  can,"  added  his  father;  "it's 
only  a  short  time  that  you  have  to  learn." 

"  I  '11  try,"  replied  the  lad,  then  just  seven  years 
old  ;  and  he  went  off  in  high  spirits. 

"  There  's  not  much  need  of  telling  him  to  do  his 
best,"  said  his  mother,  as  he  started  off,  addressing 
her  remark  to  her  husband ;  "  he  '11  do  that  any 
how." 

"  It  won't  do  him  any  hurt  to  jog  his  mind  a  little 


18  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

on  the  subject,"  responded  the  father,  whose  good 
opinion  of  his  boy  was  not  a  whit  below  that  of  the 
mother.  "  He  's  so  set  on  learnin'  to  read,  that  I 
don't  think  there  's  much  danger  of  his  not  doin' 
well." 

"He  would  make  a  good  scholar  if  he  had  a 
chance,"  continued  the  mother  ;  "  but  there  's  noth 
ing  here  for  poor  white  folks  to  enjoy,  so  we  can't 
expect  much." 

"  /  don't  mean  to  live  a  great  many  more  years, 
where  we  are  known  only  as  4  poor  white  trash '  " ; 
and  the  father  said  this  with  an  emphasis  that  showed 
determination.  He  did  not  refer  so  much  to  the 
lack  of  intellectual  advantages,  however,  as  to  the 
oppression  that  the  poor  whites  experienced  from 
the  existence  of  slavery,  though  he  appreciated  the 
fact  that  the  advantages  for  acquiring  knowledge 
were  far  greater  in  the  Free  States. 

"  You  mean,  if  God  wills,"  suggested  his  wife. 

"  Of  course  ;  and  I  think  it  is  his  will  that  we 
should  do  better  if  we  can." 

"  It  would  seem  so  ;  but  our  lot  appears  to  be 
cast  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  our  experience 
is  hardly  so  bad  as  that  of  our  ancestors  here." 

"  It 's  bad  enough  ;  and  it  don't  make  my  lot  any 
less  hard  to  know  that  my  father  was  hardly  so  well 
off  as  I  am.  I  was  knocked  about  from  pillar  to 
post  year  after  year,  and  never  had  a  chance  to  learn 
the  first  letter  of  the  alphabet." 


FIRST   DAY   AT   SCHOOL.  19 

"  Your  father  fared  worse  than  that.  And,  now  I 
think  of  it,  you  must  tell  Abe  all  about  your  fa 
ther's  experience ;  it  will  interest  him.  I  begun  to 
tell  him  about  it  the  other  day,  and  his  eyes  were 
big  as  saucers.  You  know  more  about  it  than  I  do, 
and  can  tell  it  better." 

"  Those  were  dark  days,  and  it  pains  me  to  speak 
of  them ;  but  I  think  he  ought  to  know  about  it, 
and  I  will  tell  him  the  first  chance  I  have." 

"  Yes,  every  child  ought  to  know  about  his  ances 
tors,  and  learn  to  shun  their  vices  and  imitate  their 
virtues." 

"  I  know  that ;  but  we  were  talkin'  about  his 
learnin'  to  read.  Hazel  can't  do  much  for  him, 
for  he  don't  know  much  himself." 

"  He  may  know  enough  to  make  him  a  reader," 
said  his  wife. 

"  He  might,  if  I  could  afford  to  send  him  to  him 
long  enough;  but  the  longest  time  will  be  only  a 
few  weeks." 

"  Perhaps  that  will  do.  Only  get  him  started, 
and  he  will  go  on  learning  himself,  he  is  so  eager. 
Won't  have  to  beat  things  into  his  head  much." 

"That  may  be;  but  there's  writin',  too;  it's 
about  as  necessary  for  him  to  learn  to  write  as  to 
read.  I  know  what  it  is  to  go  without  either." 

"  Providence  may  open  a  way  yet,"  continued  his 
wife.  "  It  ain't  best  to  borrow  too  much  trouble. 
We  must  have  faith  in  God." 


20  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

"  I  don't  dispute  that ;  but  faith  won't  learn 
Abe  to  read  and  write." 

"  I  'm  not  sure  about  that ;  it  may  open  the  way. 
Faith  kept  Daniel  out  of  the  lions'  jaws,  and  it  may 
keep  Abe  out  of  the  jaws  of  ignorance." 

"A  pretty  good  idea,  after  all,"  replied  her  hus 
band,  somewhat  amused  at  her  manner  of  enforcing 
the  subject.  "  It  is  pretty  certain  that  faith  will 
keep  folks  in  good  spirits,  even  in  hard  times," 
referring  to  the  hopeful,  cheerful  view  that  his  wife 
usually  took  of  passing  experience. 

"We  will  stop  here  to  say,  that  this  scene  occurred 
in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  forty-seven  years  ago. 
The  poor  man  and  wife  who  conversed  as  above 
lived  in  a  log-house,  that  is  represented  in  the  fron 
tispiece, —  a  dwelling  without  a  floor,  furnished 
with  four  or  five  three-legged  stools,  pots,  kettles, 
spider,  Dutch-oven,  and  something  that  answered 
for  a  bed.  The  man's  name  was  Thomas  Lincoln, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Bap 
tist  Church,  in  good  standing.  Mrs.  Lincoln,  par 
ticularly,  was  a  whole-hearted  Christian,  and  the 
influence  of  her  godly  example  and  precepts  was 
felt  by  each  member  of  the  family.  She  was  a 
woman  of  marked  natural  abilities,  but  of  little  cul 
ture.  She  could  read,  but  was  not  able  to  write. 
Her  good  judgment  and  sound  common  sense, 
united  with  her  strong  mental  powers  and  deep 
toned  piety,  made  her  a  remarkable  woman. 


FIKST  DAY  AT   SCHOOL.  21 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  so  highly  endowed  by  nature, 
yet  he  was  superior  to  most  of  his  neighbors  in  all 
the  attributes  of  respectable  manhood.  He  was  of 
rather  a  practical  turn  of  mind,  and  a  somewhat 
close  observer  of  men  and  things.  He  could  neither 
read  nor  write,  with  this  exception,  that  he  could 
write  his  name  so  that  some  people  could  read  it. 
His  father  before  him  was  poor,  and,  what  was  worse, 
he  was  killed  by  the  Indians  when  Thomas  was  a 
boy,  so  that  the  latter  was  sent  adrift  to  shift  for 
himself.  Hard  times  and  harder  fortune  oppressed 
him  everywhere  that  he  went,  and  he  had  all  he 
could  do  to  earn  enough  to  keep  soul  and  body 
together,  without  going  to  school  a  single  day.  He 
realized  his  deficiencies,  and  thought  all  the  more 
of  learning,  because  he  was  deprived  of  it  himself. 
He  was  a  kind,  industrious,  practical,  pious  man, 
and  his  determination  and  perseverance  enabled  him 
to  accomplish  whatever  he  undertook. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  had  a  son  and  daughter  at 
the  time  to  which  we  refer,  and  another  son  died 
in  infancy  a  few  years  before.  The  daughter  was 
the  eldest  child,  and  the  living  son,  whose  name 
was  that  staid,  suggestive  one  of  the  Bible,  —  ABRA 
HAM,  —  was  next  in  age,  and  he  was  born  February 
12th,  1809.  He  was  not  often  called  by  his  real 
name,  either  by  his  parents  or  other  people,  but  by 
that  rather  homely  abbreviation,  "  Abe."  For  some 
reason,  this  nickname  has  stuck  to  him  all  the  way 


22  THE   PIONEER  BOY. 

through  life,  in  spite  of  learning,  honor,  and  high 
official  dignity.  This  may  arise  from  the  fact  that 
his  real,  name  is  long,  homely,  and  difficult  to  utter, 
while  the  abbreviation  is  short  and  easily  spoken. 
Also,  of  the  two,  we  think  the  nickname  is  the  more 
attractive,  although  the  real  name  is  suggestive  of  a 
moral  beauty  that  challenges  universal  respect. 

Abraham  was  seven  years  old  when  he  was  sent 
to  school,  for  the  first  time,  to  one  Hazel,  who  came 
to  live  in  the  neighborhood.  Tiiere  were  no  schools 
nor  school-houses  in  the  region,  and  few  of  the  people 
around  could  read.  But  this  Hazel  could  read  and 
write  ;  but  beyond  this  he  made  a  poor  figure.  For 
a  small  sum  he  taught  a  few  children  at  his  house, 
and  Abraham  was  one  of  the  number.  His  parents 
were  so  anxious  that  he  should  know  how  to  read 
and  write,  that  they  managed  to  save  enough  out  of 
their  penury  to  send  him  to  school  a  few  weeks. 
They  considered  Abraham  a  remarkable  boy,  and 
the  sequel  will  prove  that  they  had  reason  to 
think  so. 

The  frontispiece  shows  Abraham  with  a  dilapi 
dated  book  in  his  hand.  It  is  a  copy  of  Dilworth's 
Spelling-Book,  that  had  come  into  the  family  in 
some  way  unknown  to  the  writer.  All  the  books 
the  family  could  boast  were  the  Bible,  a  catechism, 
and  this  old  school-book. 

He  was  not  very  well  clad,  but  this  was  the  best 
suit  of  clothes  that  he  had ;  indeed,  he  had  no  other. 


FIRST   DAY  AT   SCHOOL.  23 

His  parents  did  well,  in  their  poverty,  to  provide 
him  with  one  suit  at  a  time.  Few  of  their  neighbors 
could  do  better. 

Abraham  was  delighted  with  going  to  school,  and 
he  had  much  to  say  at  the  close  of  the  first  day. 

"  Much  better  off  than  I  ever  was,"  said  his 
father.  "  I  never  went  to  school  one  day  in  my 
life." 

"  Why  did  n't  you  go  some  ?  " 

"  Because  my  father  was  killed  by  the  Injins,  and 
then  I  had  to  work  for  my  bread,  and  besides  I  never 
lived  where  there  was  any  school." 

"Now  tell  Abe,"  said  his  mother,  speaking  to 
her  husband,  "  about  his  grandfather.  He  was 
named  for  him,  and  he  ought  to  know  about  him." 

"  Was  I  named  for  grandpa  ?  "  the  boy  inquired. 

"  Yes,  you  was  named  for  him,  and  you  ought  to 
know  what  a  hard  time  he  had." 

"  Do  tell  me,  father,"  said  Abraham.  "  I  want 
to  hear  about  him.  Was  he  killed  by  the  Injins  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  his  father ;  "  and  I  will  tell  you 
all  about  it.  He  was  born  in  Kockingham  County, 
Virginia,  and  removed  from  there  to  'this  State  in 
the  year  1780,  almost  forty  years  ago.  I  was  a 
very  little  boy  then." 

"  How  little  ?  small  as  I  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  Not  so  large  as  you  are.  I  wa'n't  more  than 
two  or  three  years  old.  I  was  the  youngest  child. 
Well,  I  -was  saying  that  your  grandfather  came 


24  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

here  when  it  was  all  a  wilderness,  and  there  wa'n't 
any  neighbors  nearer  than  two  or  three  miles  for 
some  years,  and  there  were  many  Injins  all  about, 
and  they  hated  white  men,  and  — " 

"  What  made  them  hate  the  white  men  ?  "  in 
quired  the  boy,  who  had  become  intensely  inter 
ested  in  the  story. 

"  Because  tlie  white  men  first  came  to  this  coun 
try,  and  drove  them  away  from  their  lands.  As  I 
was  saying,  he  had  to  clear  up  land  for  a  farm,  and 
he  did  it  as  fast  as  he  could,  a  little  every  year. 
It  was  very  hard  work,  and  very  dangerous  work, 
too,  and  he  had  to  carry  his  gun  witli  him  into  the 
woods,  so  as  to  fight  the  Injins  if  they  came.  The 
Injins  were  very  cruel,  and  sometimes  they  attacked 
a  family,  and  killed  them  all  with  the  tomahawk. 
Once  they  killed  a  whole  family  within  a  few  miles 
of  here,  and  all  the  white  men  around,  got  to 
gether,  and  went  after  them ;  but  they  could  n't 
find  'em. 

"  Well,  after  your  grandfather  had  lived  here 
about  four  years,  and  he  was  clearing  up  some  land 
a  few  miles  off,  he  was  killed  by  the  Injins.  He 
was  alone  in  the  woods  ;  and  we  thought  they  came 
upon  him  suddenly,  before  he  had  time  to  get  at 
his  gun." 

"  How  do  you  know  that,  if  he  was  alone  ?  "  asked 
Abraham. 

"  Because  his  gun  was  found  where  he  probably 


FIKST  DAY  AT   SCHOOL.  26 

laid  it  down,  and  he  was  discovered  right  side  of 
a  tree  that  he  was  cutting,  some  distance  from 
his  gun." 

"  Why  didn't  the  Injins  carry  off  his  gun  ?  " 

"  They  did  n't  see  it,  as  it  was  a  little  distance 
from  him,  and  they  did  n't  think,  probably,  that  he 
had  one. 

"As  he  didn't  come  home  at  night  as  usual,  we 
thought  that  somethin'  dreadful  had  happened,  and 
search  was  made,  and  the  next  moriiin'  his  dead 
body  was  found.  The  Injins  had  scalped  him,  and 
carried  off  his  axe." 

Mr.  Lincoln  continued :  "  You  can't  tell  how  we 
felt  when  the  worst  was  known.  And  when  his 
dead  body  was  brought  home,  it  seemed  as  if  we 
should  die.  He  was  our  protector,  and  the  family 
depended  on  him  for  support.  Where  should  we 
look  for  bread  ?  What  would  become  of  us  in  the 
wilderness  ?  We  could  n't  help  thinkin'  of  these 
things ;  and  the  future  was  dark  enough." 

"  What  did  you  do  ?  "  inquired  Abraham,  whose 
deepest  feelings  were  reached  by  the  narrative. 

"  We  did  the  best  we  could.  Your  grandmother 
worked  hard  to  support  me,  while  my  brothers  and 
sisters,  who  were  older,  went  away  to  get  a  liviii' 
where  they  could.  But  two  or  three  years  after, 
she  was  so  poor  that  I  had  to  go  away,  too,  and  I 
had  no  home  again  till  I  married,  and  came  to  live 
here.  There  is  no  telliu'  how  much  I  suffered  for 

2 


26  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

several  years,  and  how  unhappy  I  was  to  be  sent 
away  from  home  when  I  was  not  twelve  years  old. 
Yet  I  had  to  go,  —  there  was  no  other  way  to  do. 
I  must  go  or  starve.  You  can  imagine,  my  boy, 
how  you  would  feel  to  lose  your  father,  and  then  be 
obliged  to  leave  your  mother,  and  go  off  among 
strangers  to  earn  your  bread." 

"  God  be  praised  that  you  have  a  better  lot,"  ex 
claimed  Mrs.  Lincoln.  "  You  would  n't  know  how 
to  endure  it,  my  dear  child,  and  I  should  n't  know 
how  to  have  you." 

Abraham  was  too  full  to  speak.  The  tears  stood 
in  his  eye,  and  his  chin  quivered  as  his  mother 
spoke. 

"  Yes,"  continued  his  father,  "  it  would  take  me 
a  week  to  tell  you  all  I  have  heard  your  grandpa 
say  about  those  dark  days.  The  very  year  he  came 
here,  in  1780,  the  Injins  attacked  the  settlers  in 
great  force.  All  the  men  were  ordered  to  organize 
into  companies,  and  Daniel  Boone,  *  the  great  hun 
ter  of  Kentucky/  was  made  a  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  all  the  forces  were  put  under  the  charge  of 
General  Clark.  They  started  to  meet  the  enemy, 
and  found  them  near  the  Lower  Blue  Licks.  Here 
they  fought  a  terrible  battle,  and  the  Injins  beat, 
and  cut  up  our  men  badly.  Boone's  son  was 
wounded,  and  his  father  tried  to  carry  him  away 
in  the  retreat.  He  plunged  into  the  river  with  him 
on  his  back,  but  the  boy  died  before  he  reached  the 


FIRST  DAY  AT   SCHOOL.  27 

other  side.  By  the  time  Boone  got  over  the  river, 
he  looked  around  and  saw  that  the  Injins  were 
swimming  after  him ;  so  he  had  to  throw  down  his 
dead  son,  and  run  for  his  life.  He  got  away,  and 
reached  Bryan's  Station  in  safety." 

"  0,  how  thankful  we  ought  to  be  that  we  do  not 
live  in  such  trying  times  !  "  exclaimed  his  mother, 
addressing  her  remark  to  Abraham,  who  was  filled 
with  wonder  at  the  recital.  "  Now,"  she  continued, 
"  tell  him  about  those  children  that  the  Injins  car 
ried  off.  That  was  dreadful." 

"  Do  tell  it  father,"  said  Abraham. 

"That  was  some  little  time  before,"  his  father 
went  on  to  say.  "  Three  little  girls,  belonging  to 
the  fort  at  Boonsboro,  and  one  of  them  was  Boone's 
daughter,  crossed  the  Kentucky  River  in  a  canoe 
that  they  were  playing  with.  When  they  reached 
the  other  side,  several  Injins  rushed  out  of  the 
bushes  into  the  river,  and  drew  the  canoe  ashore, 
and  seized  the  little  girls  to  run  off  with  them. 
The  girls  were  scared  almost  to  death,  and  they 
screamed  so  loud  that  they  were  heard  at  the  fort. 
The  men  there  ran  out  to  help  them,  but  by  the 
time  they  reached  the  canoe,  the  Injins  had  run  off 
with  the  little  girls.  It  was  now  about  night,  so 
that  it  would  be  vain  to  follow  them,  and  they 
resolved  to  prepare  all  the  men  they  could  muster 
at  the  fort,  and  start  after  them  early  in  the 
morning. 


28  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  At  break  of  day  a  strong  party  of  white  men 
started  after  the  girls  ;  but  they  did  not  overtake 
them  until  near  the  close  of  the  day.  When  they 
had  travelled  about  forty  miles,  they  discovered 
them  at  a  short  distance.  They  had  encamped  for 
the  night,  and  were  cooking  their  supper.  Fearing 
that  the  Injins  would  kill  the  girls  as  soon  as  they 
found  that  they  were  closely  pursued,  it  was  a  part 
of  the  white  men's  plan  to  shoot  them  before  they 
had  a  chance.  Therefore,  as  soon  as  they  got  fair 
sight  of  the  Injins,  they  all  fired  at  them  at  once, 
taking  good  care  not  to  hit  the  children.  It  was  so 
sudden  to  the  '  red-skins,'  that  they  were  scared  half 
out  of  their  wits,  and  run  away,  leaving  the  girls 
and  all  their  weapons." 

"  How  glad  the  little  children  must  have  been 
to  see  their  fathers  again ! "  said  Mrs.  Lincoln. 
"  Don't  you  think  they  were,  Abe  ? " 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  replied  the  boy,  with  a  glow  of 
satisfaction  lighting  up  his  intelligent  face.  "  Were 
they  in  the  woods  all  the  night  before  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  his  father  ;  "  and  they  want  more 
pleased  to  see  their  fathers  than  their  fathers  were 
to  see  them.  The  men  might  have  followed  the 
Injins,  and  killed  them  all  before  they  had  gone  a 
mile,  but  they  were  so  glad  to  find  the  girls  that 
they  didn't  care  for  anything  else." 

"Nobody  will  blame  them,"  added  Mrs.  Lincoln  ; 
"  they  did  well  to  get  their  children  again.  But  you 


FIRST  DAT  AT   SCHOOL.  29 

have  heard  enough  now,"  turning  to  Abraham, 
"  and  I  hope  you  will  be  thankful  for  your  home.'* 

"  So  do  I,"  continued  his  father ;  "  the  poorest 
home  is  better  than  none  :  I  know  it  by  sad  expe 
rience." 

Abraham  drew  a  long  sigh,  as  if  relieved  by  the 
thought  that  his  little  cabin  was  not  surrounded 
with  such  perils.  He  had  listened  with  rapt  atten 
tion  to  the  thrilling  stories  of  his  grandfather's  time, 
and  he  was  glad  the  lines  had  fallen  to  him  in 
pleasanter  places. 

"  You  see  now,  Abe,  how  much  better  you  fare 
than  your  father  did ;  and  you  see,  too,  why  ho 
never  learned  to  read,"  said  his  mother. 

"  I  'm  glad  that  such  Injins  don't  live  about  here," 
he  replied. 

"  And  you  should  be  thankful  that  you  fare  as 
well  as  you  do,  and  make  the  most  of  your  opportu 
nities,"  continued  his  mother. 

"  Learn  to  read  in  a  few  weeks  if  you  can,  Abe," 
said  his  father ;  "  for  it  ain't  long  that  you  can  have 
Hazel  to  help  you." 

"  How  long  do  you  think,  father  ?  " 

"  Just  as  long  as  I  can  pay  for.  I  want  you 
should  know  how  to  read  and  write,  and  not  be  so 
ignorant  as  I  am.  Perhaps  you  can  learn  some 
thing  about  ciphering  yourself  when  you  are  older." 

"  Mr.  Hazel  says  I  can  learn  to  read  real  quick  if 
I  try." 


80  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,"  replied  his  father. 

"  And  then  you  can  read  the  Bible,  and  all  the 
good  stories  in  it  that  I  have  told  you,"  were  the 
words  of  his  mother. 

"  And  it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  you  as  long  as  you 
live,"  continued  his  father.  "  If  I  could  live  my 
life  over  again,  I  would  learn  to  read  somehow." 

A  neighbor  called,  and  the  conversation  with 
Abraham  was  broken  off.  The  next  chapter  will 
disclose  what  followed. 


II. 

THE  NEIGHBOE'S  CALL, 

"  "VYTALL,  neighbor  Lincoln,"  said  the  man,  "  I 
T  T  called  to  tell  you  where  you  can  sell  your 
place,  I  reckon.  You  know  we  talked  about  it 
t'other  day." 

"  I  remember  it,"  answered  Mr.  Lincoln  ;  "  and  I 
want  to  sell  out,  and  make  my  tracks  to  some  place 
where  the  curse  of  slavery  is  not  found." 

"  Where  would  you  go  ?  " 

"  I  would  go  to  Indiana.  Slavery  is  shut  out  from 
there,  and  there  is  a  chance  for  a  poor  white  man  to 
be  somebody.  But  who  wants  to  buy  ?  " 

"  A  feller  by  the  name  of  Cordy,  I  believe.  I 
was  told  about  him  to-day." 

"  Where  does  he  live  ?  " 

"  Down  the  river  somewhere  ;  I  hain't  seen  him." 

"  And  you  don't  know  anything  about  him  ?  " 

"  No  ;  only  he  wants  to  buy  a  place  about  here 
somewhere,  and  I  thought  of  you.  I  can  find  out 
about  him,  and  send  him  word  that  you  will  sell,  if 
you  want  I  should." 

"  I  wish  you  would ;  though  I  sha'n't  leave  here 
till  fall,  now  I  'm  gettin'  my  plantiu'  in." 


32  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  A  good  long  time  he  '11  have,  then,  to  make  a 
bargain.'' 

"  Yes ;  and  Abe  will  have  a  chance  to  learn 
Bomethin'  this  summer.  He  went  to  school  to-day 
for  the  first  time." 

"  That 's  more  than  my  boys  have  done.  If  I  can 
cover  their  backs  and  keep  them  from  cryin'  for 
bread,  it 's  all  I  can  do." 

"  I  can't  do  but  little  more  than  that,"  said  Mr. 
Lincoln  ;  "  but  Abe  takes  so  to  books,  that  I  want 
he  should  learn  to  read  and  write." 

"  Could  n't  he  get  along  as  well  as  his  father 
without  it?" 

"  /  never  got  along  very  well  without  it :  I  'd 
give  all  I  have  now  to  know  how  to  read  and 
write  ? " 

"  Pshaw !  "  exclaimed  the  neighbor  ;  "  I  would  n't 
do  any  such  thing.  It  don't  give  anybody  victuals 
and  clothes." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  At  any  rate,  I  don't 
want  Abe  to  be  as  ignorant  as  I  am.  If  his  mother 
could  n't  read,  we  should  have  a  sorry  time  here." 

"  It 's  no  worse  for  you  than  't  is  for  me." 

"  That  may  be :  it 's  bad  enough  for  all  of  us ; 
and  it  helps  keep  us  down  with  the  niggers." 

"  You  don't  think  so  ?  " 

"  Upon  my  word  I  do.  It 's  for  the  interest  of 
slaveholders  to  promote  ignorance,  and  hence  there 
is  the  most  ignorance  where  there  is  the  most 


THE  NEIGHBOR'S   CALL.  83 

slavery.  They  can  oppress  poor  ignorant  white 
men  like  us  more  than  they  can  those  who  know 
somethin'." 

"  I  don't  see  it  so." 

"  Well,  I  do  ;  and  I  'm  determined  to  go  where  a 
man  is  not  disgraced  by  his  labor." 

"  If  you  can  find  such  a  place,"  answered  the 
neighbor. 

"  I  can  find  such  a  place  everywhere  that  free 
dom  is,  but  nowhere  that  slavery  is  tolerated. 
Slaveholders  don't  consider  us  any  better,  nor 
hardly  so  good,  as  their  niggers;  and  the  niggers 
never  think  of  calling  us  anything  but  '  poor  white 
trash.'  " 

"  I  don't  care  for  that." 

"  I  do ;  and  I  shall  get  away  from  it  as  soon  as 
possible  after  the  summer  is  through." 

"  And  your  boy  can  read,"  added  the  man. 

"  Yes  ;  and  that  I  mean  shall  happen  anyhow.  I 
would  rather  have  him  read  and  write  than  to  own 
a  farm,  if  he  can't  have  but  one." 

"  Ha !  ha !  nonsense,"  retorted  the  neighbor. 
"  You  don't  mean  it." 

"  Whether  my  husband  means  it  or  not,"  said 
Mrs.  Lincoln,  who  had  listened  to  the  conversation, 
"  I  would  rather  Abe  would  be  able  to  read  the 
Bible  than  to  own  a  farm,  if  he  can't  have  but 
one." 

"  The  Bible,  hey ! "  exclaimed  the  man,  accom- 

2*  0 


34  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

panying  the  remark  with  an  oath  ;  "  why  did  n't 
you  say  a  last  year's  almanac  ?  "  and  he  intended 
this  last  remark  as  a  slur  upon  the  Word  of  God. 

"  I  am  surprised,  Mr.  Selby  "  (this  was  the  man's 
name),  "  at  your  talk,"  continued  Mrs.  Lincoln. 
"  The  Bible  is  the  word  of  God,  and  it  becomes  us 
all  to  study  it,  and  learn  our  duty.  I  want  my 
children  to  make  it  their  daily  companion." 

"  Their  daily  fiddlestick  !  "  answered  Mr.  Selby, 
contemptuously,  rising  from  his  seat  to  go  out. 
"  But  what  say  you,  Lincoln,  shall  I  send  that  feller 
word  about  your  selliu*  out  ?  " 

"  I  would  like  to  have  you.  Perhaps  he  can  get 
around  here  in  the  course  of  the  summer." 

Mr.  Selby  left.  He  was  an  ignorant  man,  unable 
to  read  or  write,  and  also  a  despiser  of  religion. 
Neither  had  he  any  idea  of  the  value  of  knowledge, 
and  was  satisfied  that  his  children  should  grow  up 
with  no  more  knowledge  than  he  had  himself.  He 
was  content  to  live  in  degradation,  with  just  enough 
food  and  clothing  to  sustain  existence.  He  was  very 
intemperate,  also,  and  so  profane  that  he  seldom 
conversed  a  minute  without  uttering  an  oath.  In 
this  respect  he  was  the  opposite  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
whose  good  sense  and  Christian  principles  made  him 
desirous  of  being  in  better  circumstances.  While 
Selby  never  dreamed  that  slavery  rendered  his  con 
dition  more  degraded,  Lincoln  was  continually  re 
volving  the  thought  that  his  family  suffered  from 


THE  NEIGHBOR'S   CALL.  35 

the  existence  of  slavery,  and  that  in  a  Free  State  his 
advantages  would  be  greater. 

"  He  is  to  be  pitied,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln,  when  the 
wicked  man  went  out.  "  L  hope  you  will  take 
warning  from  him,  Abe,  on  three  points." 

"  I  know  what  one  of  them  is,"  said  Abraham. 

"  What  ?  " 

"  He  swears,"  answered  the  boy. 

"  That  is  one  thing.  He  is  a  very  wicked  man  to 
take  the  name  of  God  in  vain.  What  Command 
ment  did  he  violate  ?  " 

"  The  third,"  answered  Abraham,  who  could 
repeat  the  Ten  Commandments  readily. 

u  Very  well  ;  and  what  does  God  say  he  will  not 
do  with  him  who  takes  his  name  in  vain." 

"  He  will  not  hold  1  im  guiltless  that  taketh  his 
name  in  vain,"  replied  Abraham. 

"  A  very  good  reason  for  never  using  profane  lan 
guage.  And  now,  can  you  tell  me  either  of  the 
other  points  on  which  I  want  his  character  to  warn 
you  ?  " 

Abraham  could  not  think  of  them,  and  so  his 
mother  continued  :  "  Ignorance  is  another  thing. 
Mr.  Selby  can't  read,  and,  what  is  worse,  he  don't 
want  to.  His  ignorance  makes  him  appear  alto 
gether  more  degraded.  You  don't  want  to  be  such 
a  man  as  he  is,  do  you  ?  " 

"  No,  mother,  1  don't  mean  to  be." 

"  Then  do  the  best  you  can  to  learn  to  read,  and 


86  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

be  good.  But  now  for  the  other  thing  against  which 
his  example  warns  you,  —  it  is  intemperance.  Mr. 
Selby  gets  drunk  sometimes." 

"  Was  he  drunk  to-night  ?  "  inquired  Abraham. 

"  He  wa'n't  sober,  though  he  wa'n't  very  drunk. 
But  his  intemperate  habits  have  made  him  a  miser 
able  man." 

"  Does  it  make  everybody  like  him  ? "  the  boy 
asked. 

"  It  makes  all  intemperate  men  very  degraded, 
and  it  is  a  great  sin  against  God.  It  destroys  the 
soul,  too.  The  '  drunkard  cannot  inherit  the  king 
dom  of  God  '  !  I  hope  you  will  remember  this,  and 
always  avoid  intemperance." 

It  should  be  remarked,  that  the  custom  of  using 
intoxicating  drinks  at  that  day  was  general.  Mrs. 
Lincoln  did  not  expect  her  boy  would  refuse  to  taste 
of  the  same,  but  she  meant  to  warn  him  against 
using  strong  drink  immoderately.  Whiskey  was 
the  most  common  intoxicating  beverage  then  drank, 
and  its  baneful  effects  were  widely  spread.  Mr. 
Selby  was  a  painful  example  of  intemperate  habits 
for  Abraham  to  view.  His  mother  was  wise  in 
pointing  him  to  this  cause  of  degradation  in  the 
ruined  man.  It  had  its  influence  upon  his  after  life, 
as  we  shall  see. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  slaveholders  had  some 
occasion  to  treat  the  poor  whites  with  neglect,  if  not 
with  harsher  measures,  inasmuch  as  many  of  them 


THE  NEIGHBOR'S   CALL.  37" 

were  degraded  like  Selby,  and  for  a  pittance  fur 
nished  whiskey  to  the  slaves.  We  have  just  met 
with  the  following  recital  by  an  eyewitness,  that 
illustrates  this  point:' — 

"  The  overseer  appeared  at  the  avenue  of  orange- 
trees,  and  presently  drew  rein  beside  us,  his  coun 
tenance  exhibiting  marks  of  dissatisfaction. 

"  i  I  've  had  trouble  with  them  boys  over  to  my 
place,  Colonel/  he  said,  briefly,  and  looking  lower- 
ingly  around,  as  though  he  would  be  disposed  to 
resent  any  listening  to  his  report  on  the  part  of  the 
negroes. 

"  '  Why,  what 's  the  matter  with  them  ?  '  asked 
his  employer,  hastily. 

"  '  Well,  it  'pears  they  got  some  rot-gut  —  two  gal 
lons  of  it  —  from  somewheres  last  night,  and  of 
course  all  got  drunk,  down  to  the  old  shanty  be 
hind  the  gin  :  they  went  thar  so's  I  should  n't  sus 
picion  nothin'.  They  played  cards  and  quarrelled 
and  fit ;  and  Harry's  John,  he  cut  Timberlake  bad, 
—  cut  Walkie,  too,  'cross  the  hand,  but  ain't  hurt 
him  much.' 

"  '  Harry's  John  !  I  always  knew  that  nigger  had 
an  ugly  temper !  I  '11  sell  him,  by  — !  I  won't 
have  him  on  the  place  a  week  longer.  Is  Timber- 
lake  badly  hurt?' 

" '  He 's  nigh  killed,  I  reckon.  Got  a  bad  stick  in 
the  ribs,  and  a  cut  in  the  shoulder,  and  one  in  the 


38  THE   PIONEER  BOY. 

face.  Bled  like  a  dog,  he  did !  Reckon  he  may 
get  over  it.  I  've  done  what  I  could  for  him.' 

"  '  Where  did  they  get  the  liquor  from  ? ' 

"  <  I  don't  know.  Most  likely  from  old  Whalley, 
down  to  the  landing.  He  's  mean  enough  for  any 
thing.' 

"  '  If  I  can  prove  it  on  him,  I  '11  run  him  out  of 
the  country !  I  '11  —  I  '11  —  I  '11  shoot  him  ! '  And 
the  Colonel  continued  his  imprecations,  this  time 
directing  them  toward  the  supposed  vender  of  the 
whiskey. 

"  '  These  men  are  the  curse  of  the  country !  the 
curse  of  the  country ! '  he  repeated,  excitedly,  — 
4  these  mean,  low,  thieving,  sneaking,  pilfering  poor 
ivhites  !  They  teach  our  negroes  to  steal ;  they  sell 
them  liquor;  they  do  everything  to  corrupt  and 
demoralize  them.  That 's  how  they  live.  The 
slaves  are  respectable,  compared  to  them.  They 
ought  to  be  slaves  themselves.' ' 

Now  this  incident  discloses  the  fact,  that  some 
of  the  poor  whites  give  occasion  for  the  slaveholders 
to  treat  them  with  contempt,  on  account  of  their 
doling  out  liquor  to  negroes,  and  in  other  ways  in 
citing  them  to  evil  deeds.  Some  of  the  oppression 
experienced  by  the  poor  whites  may  arise  from  this ; 
and  yet  the  views  of  Mr.  Lincoln  were  correct  in 
the  main,  namely,  that  the  whites  were  oppressed 
on  account  of  the  disgrace  that  slavery  attached  to 


THE  NEIGHBOR'S  CALL.  39 

labor.  One  poor  drunken  white  like  Selby  might 
sell  liquor  to  the  negroes,  and  encourage  them  to 
steal ;  but  this  would  furnish  no  reason  for  treating 
a  temperate,  honest,  pious  man  like  Lincoln  with 
contempt.  It  was  only  the  presence  of  slavery  that 
could  do  this. 

No  wonder  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  hostile  to  the 
system  !  nor  that  he  was  resolved  to  get  away  from 
it  with  his  family  as  soon  as  possible  !  For  a  series 
of  years  he  had  been  feeling  more  and  more  deeply 
upon  the  subject,  until  he  had  fully  resolved  to 
remove  to  a  Free  State. 


III. 

A  BRIGHTER  PEOSPECT. 

FOUR  weeks  passed. 
"  I  've  seen  Mr.  Hazel  to-day,"  said  Mr.  Lin 
coln  to  his  wife. 

u  And  what  does  he  say  about  Abe  ?  "  she  in 
quired. 

"  That  he  is  gettin'  along  the  best  of  any  boy  he 
has  had." 

"  I  knew  that  he  was  gettin'  along  well,  because 
I  have  tried  him.  He  will  be  able  to  read  some 
before  long." 

"  So  Hazel  said." 

"  How  about  his  conduct  ?  " 

"  He  don't  want  no  better  boy  than  he  is." 

"Did  he  say  so?" 

"  Yes,  he  gave  him  just  as  good  a  name  as  he 
could." 

"  I  'm  glad  of  that,  though  it  is  no  more  than  I 
expected." 

"  So  am  I  glad  ;  I  want  he  should  learn  to  read 
before  we  move  away." 

"  Then  you  really  think  you  shall  go." 


A   BRIGHTER  PROSPECT.  41 

"  Certainly  I  do,  if  I  can  sell  out." 

"  You  've  heard  nothing  from  the  man  that  Selby 
told  about  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word,  though  he  may  get  around  yet." 

"  Suppose  he  does  not  ?  " 

"  There  will  be  somebody  to  buy,  I  have  no 
doubt." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that ;  it  is  a  hard  place  to 
sell  anything  here.  Perhaps  we  shall  have  to  stay 
awhile  longer." 

She  was  preparing  his  mind  for  disappointment, 
in  case  they  did  not  sell.  He  was  so  determined 
in  this  regard,  that  a  failure  to  dispose  of  his  place 
might  dishearten  him. 

"  It  will  be  better,  then,  to  give  the  place  away, 
and  begin  new  in  free  Indiana,"  answered  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

"  Well,  time  will  prove  all  things  :  we  must  learn 
to  labor  and  wait." 

"  We  've  got  that  lesson  pretty  well  learned  now, 
I  should  think,"  replied  her  husband. 

"  And  shall  be  none  the  worse  for  it,"  she  an 
swered.  "  But  here  comes  Abe."  And  he  came 
in,  saying  :  "  Father,  there 's  a  man  coming  here." 

"  What  man  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  ;  but  I  saw  him  coining  this  way. 
There  he  is  now  "  ;  and  he  pointed  across  the  field. 

"  It 's  Selby,  ain't  it  ?  "  inquired  his  father,  with 
out  looking. 


42  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  No,  it  is  n't  Selby,"  answered  his  wife,  as  she 
looked  towards  him.  "  It 's  a  stranger,  and  he  is 
certainly  coming  here."  The  man  was  now  ap 
proaching  the  house,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  stepped  to 
the  door  to  meet  him. 

"  Is  this  Mr.  Lincoln  ?  "  inquired  the  stranger, 
presenting  his  hand. 

"  That 's  my  name." 

"  And  my  name  is  Colby,"  continued  the  man. 

"  0  yes,  Mr.  Selby  was  speaking  of  you  some 
weeks  ago.  Walk  in."  The  man  walked  in  and 
took  a  stool  (we  can't  say  chair,  since  the  house 
was  furnished  with  none). 

"  You  wish  to  sell  your  place,  I  understand,"  said 
Colby. 

"  I  've  been  thinkin'  of  it." 

"  So  Mr.  Selby  tells  me,  and  I  Ve  come  to  inquire 
about  it." 

"  Then  you  want  to  buy,  do  you  ?  " 

"  If  I  can  get  suited,  I  do." 

"  I  don't  want  to  leave  my  place  till  fall,  if  I  sell. 
After  my  crops  are  gathered,  I  shall  be  ready  to 
quit." 

"  I  should  n't  object  to  that.  I  can  wait  till  that 
time  for  a  place  that  suits  me." 

"  Then  let  us  take  a  look  about,  and  see  how  you 
like."  And  Mr.  Lincoln  proceeded  to  show  the 
man  his  humble  place.  He  took  him  out  doors,  and 
directed  his  attention  to  whatever  of  interest  there 


A  BRIGHTER  PROSPECT.  43 

was.  He  thought  he  now  saw  an  opportunity  to 
dispose  of  his  place,  and  he  was  gratified  with  the 
prospect.  He  assured  the  man  that  he  would  sell 
on  the  most  reasonable  terms. 

"  It  is  only  on  such  terms  that  I  can  think  of  buy 
ing,"  said  Colby. 

"  Perhaps  you  want  more  of  a  place  than  this/' 
replied  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"  No ;  I  can't  shoulder  much  of  a  homestead. 
This  is  about  what  I  want.  Poor  men  must  do  as 
they  can,  and  not  as  they  want  to." 

"  I  know  that  by  my  own  experience,"  responded 
Mr.  Lincoln.  "  I  've  tugged  away  ever  since  I  was 
big  enough  to  work  to  get  bread  to  eat." 

"  So  have  I ;  and  after  many  years  of  hard  labor 
I  have  not  more  than  enough  to  buy  such  a  place 
as  this." 

"  And  you  ought  to  be  thankful  for  as  much  as 
that,  in  a  Slave  State.  The  fact  is,  the  poor  whites 
have  no  better  chance  than  the  niggers  here,  and  I 
am  sick  of  it." 

"  That  won't  mend  the  matter,  as  I  see." 

«  What  ? " 

«  Why,  to  be  sick  of  it." 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  I  shall  try  what  there  is  in  a 
Free  State  to  do  it." 

"  That 's  too  venturesome  for  me." 

"'Nothing  venture,  nothing  win,' -is  the  old  say 
ing  ;  and  as  for  me,  I  've  not  much  to  lose,  though  I 
hope  to  gain  much." 


44  THE   PIONEER  BOY. 

"Well,  now,  we  are  gettin*  off  the  subject. 
What  's  the  damage  for  such  a  place  ? "  said 
Colby. 

"  I  hardly  know  myself.  I  think  we  might  as 
well  leave  that  till  fall,  when  I  get  ready  to  sell. 
I  have  no  doubt  that  I  shall  suit  you  on  the  price." 

"  So  be  it.     I  sha'n't  press  the  matter." 

"  About  the  first  of  October,  if  you  are  here,  I 
shall  be  ready  to  strike  a  bargain,"  added  Mr.  Lin 
coln.  "I  don't  think  we  shall  have  any  trouble 
about  that." 

"  And  you  will  not  sell  to  any  one  else  till  I  have 
had  the  offer  of  the  place  ?  " 

"  No  ;  the  first  chance  is  yours." 

"  I  agree  to  that  arrangement,  and  your  wife  and 
this  bright-eyed  boy  (patting  Abraham  on  the  head) 
are  witnesses  to  the  plan." 

"  We  '11  try  to  be  faithful  ones,  too,"  said  Mrs. 
Lincoln,  who  felt,  by  this  time,  that  her  recent 
words  about  not  being  able  to  sell  the  place  would 
prove  false.  "  We  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  at  the 
time  appointed,  and  trust  that  both  parties  will  be 
satisfied." 

Mr.  Colby  bade  the  family  "  good-by,"  and  left, 
with  the  promise  to  see  them  again  the  last  of  Sep 
tember  or  the  first  of  October.  He  was  as  well 
pleased  as  they,  and  both  parties  congratulated 
themselves  upon  their  promised  good  fortune.  Mr. 
Lincoln  could  see  a  brighter  prospect. 


A   BRIGHTER  PROSPECT.  45 

"  A  good  sort  of  a  man,  I  reckon,"  said  Mr.  Lin 
coln,  "  though  he  seems  well  satisfied  to  stay  in  old 
Kentucky.  Slavery  don't  trouble  him  much,  I 
s'pose." 

"It  may  be  fortunate  that  we  don't  all  think 
alike,"  said  his  wife,  "  or  everybody  would  move 
out  of  Kentucky,  and  leave  it  deserted." 

Mr.  Lincoln  smiled  at  this  remark,  and  contented 
himself  with  looking1  what  he  thought. 

Abraham  went  on  with  his  school.  Every  day  he 
posted  away  with  the  old  spelling-book  to  Hazel's 
cabin,  where  he  tried  as  hard  to  learn  as  any  boy 
who  ever  studied  his  Ab's.  He  carried  his  book 
home  at  night,  and  puzzled  his  active  brain  over 
what  he  had  learned  during  the  day.  He  cared  for 
nothing  but  his  book  now.  His  highest  ambition 
was  to  learn  to  read  as  well  as  his  mother  could. 
As  she  gathered  the  family  around  her,  and  read  the 
Bible  to  them  each  day,  and  particularly  as  she  read 
it  upon  the  Sabbath  much  of  the  time,  he  almost 
envied  her  the  blessed  privilege  of  reading.  He 
longed  for  the  day  to  come  when  he  could  read 
aloud  from  that  revered  volume.  Beyond  that 
privilege  he  did  not  look.  To  be  able  to  read  was 
boon  enough  for  him,  without  looking  for  anything 
beyond. 

It  is  not  strange  that  he  made  progress,  and  sat 
isfied  both  teacher  and  parents.  Though  a  little 
boy  only  seven  years  old,  and  living  where  teachers 


46  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

themselves  were  so  ignorant  that  seven-year-old  boys 
of  New  England  at  this  day  could  instruct  them, 
yet  he  devoted  himself  to  learning  to  read  with  an 
energy  and  enthusiasm  that  insured  success. 

Not  far  from  this  time,  Mr.  Elkins,  a  preacher  of 
the  Baptist  denomination,  who  sometimes  preached 
in  the  vicinity,  called  to  see  them.  He  was  one  of 
the  genuine  pioneer  preachers,  and  a  great  favorite 
with  the  family.  Abraham  cherished  for  him  pro 
found  respect,  and  loved  to  see  his  face. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Elkins,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  !  " 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Lincoln,  shaking  his  hand  heartily. 

"  Yes,  the  Lord  has  brought  me  around  once 
more,"  he  answered  ;  "  and  how  are  you  and  your 
family  ?  I  hope  the  Lord  has  been  gracious  to  you." 

"  More  so  than  we  deserve.  But  you  are  going  to 
preach  here  to-morrow,  are  you  ?  "  It  was  Satur 
day,  and  she  inferred  that  he  had  come  to  preach  in 
the  vicinity,  according  to  his  custom. 

"  I  wish  I  was,  but  I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you. 
I  expect  to  be  here  one  week  from  to-morrow,  and  I 
came  this  way  to-day  to  give  the  notice.  I  know 
that  if  I  tell  you  of  an  appointment,  you  will  see 
that  people  are  notified.  But  here  is  my  little  boy  ; 
how  do  you  do,  Abe  ?  "  And  he  drew  the  child  to 
himself  in  his  familiar  and  affectionate  way.  He 
had  not  observed  him  before.  Abraham  replied  in 
his  respectful  and  manly  way. 

"  Abe  goes  to  school  now,"  said  his  mother. 


A    BRIGHTER   PROSPECT.  47 

"  He  docs  ?  That 's  right,  and  I  hope  you  '11  make 
a  scholar,  my  boy." 

"  He  is  getting  along  finely,"  added  his  mother. 
"  I  think  he  will  be  able  to  read  the  Bible  in  a  lew 
weeks." 

"  That  will  be  capital,"  said  Mr.  Elkins.  "  Then 
yon  can  do  some  of  the  reading  for  your  mother. 
And  when  you  can  read,  you've  got  something 
that  nobody  can  get  away  from  you.  With  the 
Bible,  knowing  how  to  read  it,  and  having  a  heart 
to  obey  it,  you  will  make  a  good  pioneer  boy." 

"  What's  a  pioneer  boy  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

Mr.  Elkins  replied,  "  Well,  he  is  a  backwoods- 
boy,  who  can  make  the  best  of  things  in  tins  hard 
country,  and  cut  his  way  along  in  spite  of  all  dis 
couragements,  helping  his  father  and  mother,  broth 
ers  and  sisters,  and  live  in  the  woods,  if  you  want 
to  have  him." 

"  Abe  can  do  that,"  said  his  mother,  looking  lov 
ingly  at  the  boy,  just  as  his  father  came  in,  surprised 
to  see  his  favorite  preacher. 

"I  was  just  saying  to  your  son,"  continued  Mr. 
Elkins,  "  that  he  would  make  a  good  pioneer  boy." 

"  He'll  have  to  be  one,  whether  he  makes  a  good 
one  or  not,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln.  "I'm  thinkin' 
of  going  into  the  woods  more  than  we  are  now.  I 
have  had  an  offer  for  this  place,  and  mean  to  take 
it." 

"  Ah !     Is  that  so  ?     How  can  we  spare  you  ?  " 


48  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

"  If  nothing  happens,  another  winter  will  find  iae 
in  Indiana.  I  've  been  thinkin*  of  it  a  long  time." 

"  And  all  because  you  want  to  be  free"  said  Mr. 
Elkins,  rather  humorously.  He  had  often  conversed 
with  Mr.  Lincoln  in  respect  to  slavery,  and  respected 
his  views,  although  he  did  not  feel  quite  so  strongly 
upon  the  subject  as  Mr.  Lincoln  did. 

"  Yes ;  I  shall  never  have  a  better  time  than  this. 
If  I  'm  ever  goin',  I  'd  better  go  now." 

"  Had  you  better  go  at  all  ?  Settle  that  question, 
and  ask  the  Lord  to  direct  you.  c  It  is  not  in  man 
that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps.'  We  all  want  wis 
dom  from  above." 

"  That  is  very  true,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln  ;  "  and  I 
trust  that  we  shall  take  no  step  that  He  will  not 
approve." 

"  That  is  the  right  spirit  to  have,"  said  Mr.  Elkins, 
rising  to  go,  and  excusing  himself  from  remaining 
longer.  "  I  've  quite  a  journey  to  take  yet." 

"  I  wish  you  were  to  preach  here  to-morrow," 
continued  Mrs.  Lincoln.  "  It  is  such  a  privilege  to 
hear  the  Gospel !  " 

"  Your  family  scarcely  need  it,"  answered  Mr. 
Elkins,  suggestively ;  "  your  sermons  do  very  well 
for  your  family  on  the  Sabbath."  He  alluded  here 
to  the  manner  of  her  keeping  the  Sabbath. 

"  I  don't  deserve  your  compliment,  Mr.  Elkins." 

"  I  '11  leave  that  to  your  husband  and  children  to 
decide.  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  agree  with  me. 
So  good  by  to  you."  And  he  left. 


A   BRIGHTER  PROSPECT.  '  49 

Mr.  Elkins  alluded,  as  we  have  said,  to  her  cus 
tom  of  instructing  her  family  from  the  Bible  on  the 
Sabbath,  when  there  was  no  preaching  in  the  region. 
Being  the  only  person  in  the  family  who  could  read, 
she  improved  the  Lord's  day  to  read  much  from  the 
Scriptures.  Her  method  in  this  respect  was  so 
excellent,  and  exerted  such  an  influence  in  forming 
Abraham's  character,  that  we  shall  devote  the  fol 
lowing  chapter  to  it. 


IV. 

THE  SABBATH  LESSON. 

IT  was  Sabbath  morning  (the  day  after  Mr. 
Elkins  called),  and  the  simple  breakfast  had 
been  partaken,  the  dishes  cleared  away  and  washed, 
and  the  room  put  in  order  for  holy  time.  The 
morning  devotions  had  been  enjoyed,  the  mother 
reading  the  Scriptures,  and  the  father  leading  in 
prayer.  And  the  angels  had  gone  up  to  God  on 
shining  wings,  with  tidings  of  a  Sabbath  well  begun. 

"  Come,  my  children,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln,  "  let 
us  honor  the  day  by  reading  the  "Word  of  God." 
And  she  took  down  the  Bible  from  a  shelf  in  the 
cabin.  "  Would  that  we  could  hear  Mr.  Elkins 
preach  to-day !  but  that  is  impossible,  and  we  must 
keep  the  day  as  best  we  can." 

"  When  will  Mr.  Elkins  preach  again  ?  "  inquired 
Abraham. 

"One  week  from  to-day  he  expects  to  be  here. 
To-day  God  must  preach  to  us  out  of  his  Word." 

"  No  better  preaching  than  that,"  said  her  hus 
band. 

"  And  well  for  us  if  we  profit  by  it,"  responded 
his  wife. 


HIE    SABBATH   LESSON.  51 

We  have  said  that  Mr.  Elldns  was  a  preacher  of 
the  Baptist  denomination,  to  which  this  pious  couple 
belonged.  He  visited  that  region  as  often  as  ho 
could  ;  but  there  were  many  Sabbaths  when  they 
had  no  preaching.  At  these  times  Mrs.  Lincoln 
gathered  her  children  around  her,  and  read  and 
expounded  the  Bible.  As  she  could  read,  and  her 
husband  could  not,  she  was  obliged  to  bear  a  great 
.part  of  the  responsibility  of  this  form  of  religious 
instruction. 

"  Where  shall  I  read  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Read  about  Moses,"  replied  Abraham.  The 
story  of  Moses,  in  common  with  others,  had  been 
read  and  told  to  him  over  and  over,  so  that  he  was 
familiar  with  it,  and  was  never  weary  of  listening 
to  it. 

"  A  good  story  that  is,"  said  his  father ;  "  and 
you  seem  to  like  it,  Abe." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  I  like  some  others  about  as  well." 

"  We  '11  read  about  Moses  first,"  said  his  mother ; 
"  and  I  hope  you  '11  try  to  be  like  him.  He  was 
just  as  good  a  boy  as  he  was  a  man." 

So  she  read  through  the  whole  record  of  Moses's 
life  ;  and  the  children  and  their  father  listened  with 
breathless  interest,  though  they  had  done  the  same 
many  times  before. 

"  Wonderful !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Lincoln.  "  How 
God  kept  him  by  his  power,  and  saved  him  from  all 
harm !  " 


52  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  That  he  might  do  his  will,  and  lead  his  people," 
added  her  husband. 

"  Yes,  that  was  it ;  and,  though  hosts  of  enemies 
and  great  difficulties  were  in  his  way,  his  purposes 
were  executed." 

"All  things  are  possible  with  God,"  said  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

"  And  a  blessed  thing  it  is  for  this  wicked 
world,"  replied  his  wife.  "  If  man  could  have  his 
own  way,  there  would  be  an  end  to  all  peace  and 
happiness  very  soon." 

"  Yes,  the  Psalmist  could  well  say,  '  The  Lord 
reign eth,  let  the  earth  rejoice/  " 

"  Now  read  about  Joseph,"  said  Abraham.  This 
was  another  of  the  Bible  stories  to  which  he  loved 
to  listen.  Before  he  could  talk,  these  thrilling 
sacred  histories  were  related  to  him  in  the  simple 
language  of  maternal  affection,  and  his  young  heart 
was  deeply  impressed  by  them. 

"  See  how  obedient  he  was,"  said  his  mother,  as 
she  proceeded  with  the  narrative.  "No  wonder 
that  God  blessed  him !  " 

Again  she  would  say,  "  How  kind  he  was  to  his 
brothers,  even  when  they  were  cruel  to  him !  " 

And  again,  "  God  will  take  care  of  one  who  is  so 
faithful." 

Yet,  again,  as  the  narrative  drew  to  its  close, 
"  How  good  in  him  to  treat  his  wicked  brothers  so 
well!  He  might  have  punished  them  dreadfully 


THE   SABBATH   LESSON.  53 

for  their  wickedness,  but  he  forgave  them  and  pro 
vided  them  with  corn." 

"  How  would  you  feel,  Abe,  to  be  carried  away 
from  you,  father  and  mother  for  so  long  a  time  ?  " 

"  How  long  was  it  ?  "  inquired  Abraham. 

"  0,  it  was  many  years ;  I  don't  know  exactly 
how  many." 

"  And  what  a  meeting  it  was  with  his  father  at 
last!"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln.  "It  brings  tears  to  my 
eyes  to  think  of  it." 

In  this  way  many  Bible  stories  were  read  and 
commented  upon  in  their  simple  but  devout  man 
ner,  so  that  the  Sabbaths  without  preaching  must 
have  been  as  profitable  to  the  children  as  those 
when  Parson  Elkins  proclaimed  the  truth. 

Her  reading  was  not  confined  to  the  Old  Testa 
ment,  nor  to  the  narrative  portions  of  the  Bible. 
She  understood  the  Gospel  because  she  had  a 
Christian  experience  that  was  marked.  She  was 
a  firm,  consistent  disciple  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
was  qualified  thereby  to  expound  the  Scriptures. 
The  story  of  the  Cross,  as  it  is  recorded  in  the 
twenty-seventh  chapter  of  Matthew,  was  read  over 
and  over  at  the  fireside,  accompanied  with  many 
remarks  that  were  suited  to  impress  the  minds  of 
her  children. 

"Yes,  you  ought  to  love  him  and  serve  him," 
she  would  say,  "  for  all  his  love  and  mercy.  He 
died  for  you,  and  he  has  a  claim  on  your  hearts." 


54  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

Sometimes  the  children  would  interpose  a  ques 
tion,  as  "  Did  Jesus  want  to  die  ?  "  "  What  did  the 
wicked  men  kill  him  for  ?  "  "  Why  did  God  let  the 
wicked  men  kill  him?"  and  other  inquiries  in 
childhood's  artless  way ;  to  all  of  whicn  the  pious 
mother  would  reply  as  best  she  could.  Her  man 
ner  of  reading  the  Scriptures  and  commenting 
thereon  \vas  well  suited  to  call  forth  simple  ques 
tions,  and  this  she  loved  to  see  and  encourage. 
The  practice  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  Christian 
family. 

The  Ten  Commandments  were  made  an  impor 
tant  matter  in  the  Sabbath  Lessons,  and  Abraham 
was  drilled  in  repeating  them.  Four  of  them  were 
particularly  pressed  upon  his  attention,  viz. :  (III.) 
"  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
God  in  vain  ;  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guilt 
less  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain."  (IV.)  "  Re 
member  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy."  (Y.) 
"  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thy  days 
may  be  long  upon  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  giveth  thee."  (IX.)  "  Thou  shalt  not  bear 
false  witness  against  thy  neighbor." 

Of  the  Third  Commandment  she  would  say,  "  It 
is  God  that  speaks  here.  Never  swear,  my  son." 

"  I  never  do,"  said  Abraham. 

"  And  I  hope  you  never  will." 

"  How  old  Selby  swore  to  father  t'  other  day," 
added  Abraham. 


THE   SABBATH  LESSON.  55 

"It  was  dreadful,"  replied  his  father.  "But 
the  old  sinner  knows  no  better.  The  fear  of  God  is 
not  before  his  eyes." 

"  Can  you  think  of  any  good  it  does  to  swear," 
inquired  his  mother. 

"  It  can't  do  any  good  if  it  is  wicked,"  answered 
the  boy,  and  many  an  older  head  would  have  failed 
to  answer  as  well. 

"  Exactly  so ;  nobody  can  imagine  any  good  it 
can  do." 

"  What  do  folks  want  to  swear  for,  then  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Sure  enough  ;  that 's  hard  telling  ;  they  don't 
know  themselves." 

"  It 's  just  because  they  are  wicked,"  added  his 
father. 

"  Don't  Mr. swear  ?  "  he  asked,  as  if  a  man 

of  his  respectability  and  influence  could  n't  be  very 
wicked. 

"  Perhaps  he  does  sometimes ;  for  some  respecta 
ble  people  are  wicked.  Sin  is  no  better  because  it  is 
done  by  respectable  folks." 

"  No,  never  swear  because  you  hear  some  one  else 
do  it,"  added  his  father.  "  You  should  n't  be  wick 
ed  because  other  folks  are." 

And  then  she  passed  to  another  commandment,  the 
Fourth,  for  instance,  and  sought  to  impress  its  im 
portance  and  value  upon  their  minds. 

"  One  day  in  seven  is  none  too  much  to  give  to 


66  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

the  Lord  who  gave  his  life  for  us,"  she  woulJ.  say. 
"  It  is  God's  day,  and  you  must  remember  it." 

And  so  of  the  Fifth  Commandment. 

u  There  's  a  great  promise  to  children  who  obey 
their  parents,"  she  remarked.  "  Honor  thy  father 
and  thy  mother." 

"  What  is  honor  ? 2>  inquired  Abraham. 

"  It  means  to  show  your  parents  respect,  and  to 
obey  and  love  them,"  replied  his  mother.  "  That 
you  can  understand." 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  that  means." 

"  And  children  who  honor  their  parents  do  all 
they  can  for  their  parents'  comfort  and  support." 

"  That  is  easy  enough  done,"  answered  Abraham. 

"  I  hope  you  will  always  think  so,  my  child. 
Boys  are  likely  to  want  their  own  way,  and  spend 
their  time  in  idleness." 

"  I  sha'n't,"  said  Abraham. 

"  You  sometimes  want  your  own  way  now ;  but 
I  hope  you  see  the  folly  of  it." 

Abraham  knew  the  last  remark  was  correct,  for 
he  had  sometimes  been  disobedient,  although  he 
was  a  remarkably  good  boy  generally.  But  he 
could  recall  instances  when  he  failed  to  honor  his 
parents,  and  now  he  hung  his  head  for  shame. 

Another  point,  derived  from  the  Ninth  Command 
ment,  upon  which  she  laid  much  stress,  was  truth 
fulness. 

"  Always  speak  the  truth,  my  son." 


THE   SABBATH  LESSON.  57 

"I  do  tell  the  truth,"  was  Abraham's  usual 
reply,  and  lie  could  say  it  without  fear  of  being 
disputed . 

"  I  think  you  do  ;  but  it  is  well  to  think  of  the 
consequences  if  you  don't." 

"  What  are  the  consequences  ?  " 

"  God's  displeasure." 

"And  be  disgraced  among  men,"  added  his 
father.  "  Nobody  wants  to  see  a  liar  about." 

"  That  is  so,"  responded  Mrs.  Lincoln  ;  "  and  no 
body  will  believe  a  liar  when  he  tells  the  truth. 
But,  after  all,  the  anger  of  God  is  worse." 

"  The  Commandment  don't  say  that  God  is  angry 
with  a  liar,"  said  Abraham. 

"  But  the  Bible  says  so  many  times,  or  what  is 
just  the  same.  c  Lying  lips  are  abomination  to  the 
Lord  ;  but  they  that  deal  truly  arc  his  delight.' 
«  The  king  shall  rejoice  in  God ;  every  one  that 
swcarcth  by  him  shall  glory  ;  but  the  mouth  of 
them  that  speak  lies  shall  be  stopped.'  4  A  false 
witness  shall  not  be  unpunished,  and  he  that  speak- 
eth  lies  shall  perish.'  'The  fearful  and  unbe 
lieving,  and  the  abominable,  and  murderers,  and 
whoremongers,  and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters,  and 
all  liars,  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  which 
burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone  ;  which  is  the 
second  death.'  ' 

Abraham  almost  trembled  sometimes  before  the 
array  of  Scripture  texts  that  his  mother  would 

3* 


58  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

bring  to  enforce  a  subject.  She  was  very  familiar 
with  the  Bible,  and  its  authority  was  always  ap 
pealed  to  as  above  on  the  sin  of  lying. 

"  No  ;  my  children  must  never  lie.  Better  be  poor 
than  be  false.  There  is  nothing  worse  than  lying." 

"  Ain't  swearing  worse  ?  "  asked  Abraham,  think 
ing  that  his  mother  made  that  appear  the  worst  sin 
there  was. 

"  Both  are  bad  enough,  and  God  is  displeased 
with  both,"  answered  his  mother,  "  and  that  is 
enough  for  us  to  know." 

In  this  way  many  Sabbaths  of  Abraham's  boy 
hood  were  spent,  so  that  he  became  familiar  with 
the  Bible.  For  a  boy  of  his  age,  he  was  excelled 
by  few  in  his  acquaintance  with  the  Scriptures. 
The  Bible,  catechism,  and  the  old  spelling-book 
named  being  the  only  books  in  the  family,  at  this 
time,  as  we  have  said,  and  there  being  no  papers, 
either  religious  or  secular,  the  Bible  was  read  much 
more  than  it  would  have  been  if  other  volumes  had 
been  possessed.  It  was  the  first  book  that  Abraham 
ever  read,  —  that  same  old  family  Bible,  kept  very 
choice  because  their  poverty  could  not  afford  an 
other.  It  was  the  only  Bible  that  his  mother  ever 
possessed,  her  life- treasure,  to  which  she  was  more 
indebted,  and  perhaps,  also,  her  son  Abraham,  than 
to  any  other  influence.  It  was  certainly  the  light 
of  her  dwelling,  and  the  most  powerful  educator 
that  ever  entered  her  family.  We  shall  see  all  along 


THE    SABBATH   LESSON.  59 

through  this  volume,  that  this  blessed  book,  as  the 
text-book  of  home  instruction,  from  which  were 
derived  those  important  lessons  relating  to  the  Sab 
bath,  profanity,  lying,  truth,  obedience,  and  other 
subjects,  had  much  to  do  in  forming  the  character 
of  Abraham.  That  same  Bible  is  still  in  the  pos 
session  of  a  relative,  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Nor  was  prayer  neglected.  She  was  a  praying 
woman,  and  taught  Abraham  when  a  little  child  to 
lisp  his  prayer.  The  Lord's  Prayer  was  very  early 
taught  him,  and  it  became  a  part  of  his  child-life  to 
repeat  it. 

"  God  takes  care  of  you,  my  children,  and  sends 
you  food  and  clothing.  Every  beast  of  the  field  is 
his,  and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills ;  and  you 
must  not  forget  it." 

"  I  pray  to  Dod,"  Abraham  would  say,  before  he 
could  talk  plain  ;  and  lie  did,  as  his  pious  mother 
taught  him  to  lisp  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

"That  is  what  everybody  should  do,  —  pray  to 
God.  They  should  ask  him  to  watch  over  them, and 
thank  him  for  his  goodness." 

"  Won't  he  watch  over  me  without  asking  ?  "  in 
quired  Abraham. 

"  As  to  that,  he  requires  us  to  ask  him,  and  we 
ought  to  do  it." 

"  Does  everybody  ask  him  ?  " 

"  No  ;  many  people  pay  no  regard  to  him." 

"  What  does  he  watch  over  them  for,  then  ?  " 


60  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  He  knows  ;  and  it  is  best  for  us  to  do  right 
without  asking  any  questions  "  ;  and  this  was  the 
best  way  she  could  reply  to  some  of  his  inquiries. 
It  has  been  said,  that  "  a  child  will  ask  questions} 
that  a  philosopher  cannot  answer."  Whether  this 
be  so  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  Mrs.  Lincoln  was 
often  puzzled  by  Abraham's  questions.  From  a 
child,  he  possessed  a  discriminating  mind,  and  was 
disposed  to  know  the  reason  of  things.  Hence,  he 
asked  many  questions  when  his  mother  was  teaching 
him,  and  she  answered  them  as  well  as  she  could. 

This  cabin  of  the  Lincoln  family  was  thus  conse 
crated  to  God,  and  it  was  rather  a  remarkable  one 
among  the  dwellings  around.  At  that  time,  and  in 
that  region,  there  was  Mound  here  and  there  a  log- 
house  in  which  the  most  devoted  servants  of  Christ 
dwelt.  Such  was  the  case  with  the  abode  described. 
God  was  honored  there,  and  the  children  were  reared 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

Mrs.  Lincoln  knew  that  the  influences  to  which 
Abraham  was  exposed  in  that  country  were  decid 
edly  evil.  There  was  much  of  profanity,  Sabbath- 
breaking,  and  falsehood  practised,  and  she  felt  the 
need  of  guarding  him  at  these  points.  Hence  her 
faithful  counsels  in  connection  with  the  Command 
ments. 

A  Christian  mother's  culture  always  makes  its 
mark.  Great  and  good  men  usually  have  good 
mothers.  Their  fathers  may  not  be  men  of  mark, 


THE   SABBATH   LESSON.  61 

but  their  mothers  are  women  of  noble  powers  and 
qualities  of  heart.  John  Randolph,  whose  name  is 
familiar  to  every  school-boy,  said,  "  I  used  to  bo 
called  a  Frenchman,  because  I  took  the  French  side 
in  politics  ;  and  though  this  was  unjust,  yet  the  truth 
is,  I  should  have  been  a  French  atheist,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  one  recollection,  and  that  was,  the  memory 
of  the  time  when  my  departed  mother  used  to  take 
my  little  hands  in  hers,  and  cause  me,  on  my  knees, 
to  say,  <  Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven.' ' 

John  Quincy  Adams  was  another  American  states 
man  who  bore  similar  testimony  to  the  value  of  his 
mother's  influence.  "  It  is  due  to  gratitude  and 
nature,"  he  said,  "  that  I  should  acknowledge  and 
avow  that,  such  as  I  have  been,  whatever  it  was, 
such  as  I  am,  whatever  it  is,  and  such  as  I  hope  to 
be  in  all  futurity,  must  be  ascribed,  under  Provi 
dence,  to  the  precepts  and  example  of  my  mother." 

The  American  nation  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the 
virtues  of  Washington's  mother,  and  thereby  ac 
knowledged  its  indebtedness  to  her,  when  a  monu 
ment  was  reared  over  her  remains,  bearing  the 
simple  inscription,  "  MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OP  WASH 
INGTON."  It  was  honor  enough  to  be  the  mother  of 
such  a  man,  and  distinction  enough  to  be  the  son 
of  such  a  woman.  And  the  nation,  in  this  unosten 
tatious  way,  recognized  the  fact  that  she  exerted  a 
mighty  influence  in  deciding  the  destinies  of  the  land, 
by  the  pious  culture  she  bestowed  upon  her  boy. 


62  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

Thus  our  country  has  been  far  more  indebted 
to  mothers  than  many  people  imagine,  verifying  the 
beautiful  words  of  Mrs.  Sigourney  :  — 

"  In  her  own  place,  the  hearth  beside, 

The  patriot's  heart  to  cheer, 
The  young,  unfolding  mind  to  guide, 

The  future  sage  to  rear; 
Where  sleeps  the  cradled  infant  fair, 
To  watch  with  love  and  kneel  in  prayer, 
Cheer  each  sad  soul  with  pity's  smile, 
And  frown  on  every  latent  wile 
That  threats  the  pure,  domestic  shade,  — 
Sister,  so  best  our  life  shall  aid 
The  land  we  love." 

In  the  present  crisis  of  affairs,  our  nation  may  be 
nearly  as  much  indebted  to  Abraham's  mother,  as 
it  was  to  the  mother  of  Washington.  Bearing  in 
mind  his  early  culture,  the  reader  cannot  fail  to  see 
that  it  exerted  a  moulding  influence  upon  the  whole 
character  and  career  of  the  son.  And  it  is  a  fact 
from  which  the  youth  and  young  men  of  our  land 
may  learn  a  lesson  of  lasting  good,  causing  them  to 
appreciate  the  fidelity  of  maternal  affection,  and  to 
profit  by  the  counsels  of  piety  that  hallow  the  en 
dearments  of  HOME. 


V. 

THE  SALE. 

IT  was  about  the  first  of  October,  1816.  Abra 
ham  had  not  been  to  school  for  some  weeks ; 
and  yet  he  could  read  quite  well  for  a  boy  not  yet 
eight  years  old.  He  could  read  some  when  he  left 
school ;  and  he  persevered  so  well  at  home  that  he 
was  now  able  to  read  the  Scriptures  in  the  family. 
This  was  doing  much  better  than  many  boys  do  at 
this  day,  even  in  highly  favored  New  England ;  and 
the  fact  becomes  a  key  to  his  character. 

It  was  the  time  for  Colby  to  pay  them  a  visit,  and 
negotiate  for  the  place.  They  had  not  seen  him 
since  he  made  them  a  call ;  but  there  was  some 
thing  in  his  appearance  that  caused  them  to  think 
he  would  come.  They  had  not  much  doubt  of  it.. 
And  their  expectations  were  realized.  Scarcely  a 
week  of  October  had  passed  before  he  made  his 
appearance. 

"  You  're  good  as  your  word,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln. 

44  That 's  what  I  meant  to  be,"  replied  Colby. 

"  We  've  been  expectin'  you,  and  rather  making 
arrangements  to  sell  the  place.  Have  you  found 
any  place  you  like  better  ?  " 


64  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

"  No  ;  I  have  n't  looked  much.  I  'm  satisfied 
with  this,  if  we  can  agree  upon  the  price,  and  I 
can  find  out  a  way  to  pay  you." 

"  It  won't  take  you  long  to  find  out  the  price  of 
it,  for  I  have  settled  it  in  my  own  mind  ;  and  I 
s'pose  it  won't  take  me  much  longer  to  find  out 
whether  you  will  buy." 

"  I  expect  it  is"  about  so,"  answered  Colby.  "  As 
matters  appear  to  stand,  it  will  not  be  a  long  job 
that  is  before  us.  What 's  your  price  ?  " 

"  I  will  sell  out  for  three  hundred  dollars." 

The  reader  will  not  be  startled  by  this  amount. 
Think  of  a  place  worth  three  hundred  dollars ! 
You  could  hardly  call  it  a  homestead  ;  and  yet  it 
was  all  that  Abraham's  father  possessed  in  the 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  A  farm  for  three  hundred 
dollars !  House,  land,  and  all  for  that !  After 
years  of  hard  toil  and  harder  privations,  this  was 
all  he  had.  Scarcely  enough  to  supply  a  small 
family  with  furniture  to  commence  housekeeping  in 
Massachusetts  !  But  that  was  his  price,  and  it  was 
all  the  place  was  worth. 

"  How  in  regard  to  the  pay  ?  "  asked  Colby. 

"  That 's  important  to  me,  of  course.  What  do 
you  propose  ?  " 

"  I  have  n't  much  money,  I  can  tell  you  to  begin 
with,  though  I  have  what  is  good  as  money  in  the 
market." 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

1 


THE   SALE.  65 

"  You  see  I  've  been  specilatin'  a  little  since  I 
gave  you  a  call  in  the  summer.  I  used  up  my 
grain  for  whiskey,  and  I  bought  some  too,  thinkin* 
that  I  should  make  a  spec  out  of  it ;  but  I  hain't 
sold  but  a  trifle  on  't  yet.  Now,  if  I  could  pay  you 
mostly  in  whiskey,  I  would  strike  the  bargain  at 
once  ;  and  may  be  that  over  in  Indiana  you  '11  find 
a  ready  market  for  it." 

"I  hadn't  thought  of  takin'  pay  in  such  an  ar 
ticle,"  answered  Mr.  Lincoln  ;  "  and  I  don't  know 
as  I  could  ever  sell  it.  I  'm  going  to  strike  right 
into  the  wilderness." 

"  That  may  be  ;  but  you  '11  have  neighbors  within 
a  few  miles ;  and  over  there  they  hain't  got  the 
knack  of  manifacturin'  it,  I  s'pose,  and  this  would 
make  it  easier  to  sell  it." 

"  It 's  awkward  stuff  to  carry  on  such  a  trip, 
though  I  expect  to  move  on  a  flat-boat." 

"  Just  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to  carry 
this  ;  you  can  carry  it  as  well  as  not  on  a  boat. 
You  won't  have  half  a  load  of  other  stuff.  And 
it  will  bring  you  double  there  what  it  will  here, 
I'm  thinkin'." 

"  That 's  all  guess-work." 

"  But  don't  it  stand  to  reason  that  whiskey  would 
bring  more  where  they  can't  make  it,  as  they  can 
hero  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  admit  that  it  may  probably  bring  more 
there,  and  it  ought  to  bring  more  to  pay  for  the 


66  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

trouble  of  takin*  it  there.  But  can't  you  turn  it 
into  money  in  some  way  ?  " 

"  I  don't  see  how  I  can ;  I  Ve  done  the  best  I 
could  about  it.  The  fact  is  that  folks  around  here 
have  laid  in  for  whiskey  largely.  I  can  sell  it  in 
time,  I  have  no  doubt,  at  a  stiff  price,  but  that 
won't  help  me  just  now." 

"  It  seems  so  ;  but  this  is  unexpected,  though 
I  'm  determined  to  sell  out  at  some  rate.  I  must 
see  my  wife  about  it,  however,  and  get  her  judgment 
on  the  matter." 

Mr.  Lincoln  consulted  his  wife  in  regard  to  the 
article  with  which  Colby  proposed  to  pay  for  the 
place.  She  was  somewhat  disappointed  on  hearing 
of  this  turn  of  affairs,  as  she  had  rather  anticipated 
that  he  would  pay  money  for  it,  though  it  would 
have  been  rather  unusual,  then  and  there,  for  a 
man  to  pay  money  for  the  whole  of  a  place.  Traffic 
was  carried  on  largely  by  exchanging  one  thing  for 
another.  But  there  was  something  about  Colby's 
appearance,  when  lie  first  came  to  see  the  place, 
that  caused  Mrs.  Lincoln  to  expect  that  he  would 
pay  cash  for  the  farm.  For  this  reason,  the  idea  of 
selling  their  place  for  whiskey  struck  her  as  alto 
gether  novel  and  queer  at  first. 

"  But  I  must  sell  at  some  rate,"  said  her  hus 
band  ;  "  and  this  may  be  my  last  chance  this  sea 
son." 

"  That  is  true,  and  the  matter  must  be  looked  at. 


TIIE   SALE.  6T 

It  may  bo  that  tho  whiskey  could  be  sold  in  Indiana 
more  readily  than  we  expect.  I  scarcely  know 
what  to  say.  You  must  do  as  you  think  best." 

"  Well,  I  think  it  is  best  to  sell  out  at  some  rate, 
and  if  I  thought  that  this  was  my  last  chance  to 
sell  this  fall,  I  should  take  the  whiskey,  and  run 
the  risk." 

"  As  to  that,  I  think  it  likely  that  you  won't  have 
another  chance  this  fall.  It  is  n't  often  that  you  can 
sell  a  place  in  this  part  of  the  country." 

"  I  'in  inclined  to  think,  then,"  continued  Mr. 
Lincoln,  musing,  with  his  eyes  fastened  upon  the 
earth-floor  of  their  cabin,  as  if  scarcely  knowing 
what  to  do,  "  that  I  shall  take  the  whiskey  if  I  can't 
do  any  better  with  him." 

"  Just  as  you  think  best,"  answered  his  wife. 
"  You  can  judge  better  than  I  can  whether  it  will 
do  or  not." 

After  going  to  the  man,  and  satifying  himself  that 
he  must  take  the  whiskey,  or  fail  to  sell,  Mr.  Lincoln 
introduced  the  subject  of  the  price  of  it,  about  which 
nothing  had  been  said. 

"  How  much  a  gallon  ?  "  he  inquired.  "  You  '11 
of  course  sell  it  at  a  discount,  secin'  I  take  such  a 
quantity." 

"  Certainly  ;  I  shall  sell  it  to  you  for  five  cents  a 
gallon  less  than  the  wholesale  price  of  a  barrel ;  and 
you  can't  ask  anything  better  than  that." 

"  That  's  fair,  I  think  ;  and  now  let  me  see,  how 


68  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

much  will  it  take  ?  "  The  reader  must  remember 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  never  studied  arithmetic,  though 
he  could  solve  such  a  problem  as  this  only  give  him 
time.  He  had  been  obliged  to  think  and  act  for 
himself  from  boyhood,  and  of  course,  contact  with 
men  and  things  had  given  him  some  knowledge  of 
figures,  or,  at  least,  the  ability  to  perform  some 
problems  mentally. 

Mr.  Lincoln  continued  :  "  Seventy  cents  a  gallon 
—  that  will  be  —  let  me  see  —  seventy  cents  a 
gallon  —  that  will  —  " 

"  Why,  one  hundred  gallons  would  come  to  sev 
enty  dollars,"  interrupted  Colby,  "  and  four  hundred 
would  come  to  two  hundred  and  eighty  dollars." 

"  Yes,  I  see  it  —  four  hundred  gallons,  and  the 
rest  in  money." 

"  That  is  it ;  it  will  make  just  ten  barrels  of  forty 
gallons  each,  and  twenty  dollars  in  money." 

"  I  see  it.  I  will  agree  to  that.  Ten  barrels,  and 
the  balance  in  money.  And  when  shall  we  close  the 
bargain  ?  " 

"  Just  as  soon  as  you  propose  to  leave." 

"  That  will  be  about  the  first  of  November.  I 
shall  want  the  whiskey  and  money,  though,  a  week 
before  that,  so  as  to  be  all  ready  to  start." 

"  A  week  before  that  it  is,  then.  I  agree  to  that, 
and  shall  be  here  promptly  at  the  time.  Perhaps 
I  shall  bring  the  whiskey  before  that,  if  it  comes 
right." 


THE   SALE.  69 

"  Just  as  well,  —  as  soon  as  you  please." 

So  the  bargain  was  struck,  and  Colby  left. 

Let  the  reader  stop  here  to  ponder  this  trade.  A 
homestead  sold  for  ten  barrels  of  whiskey  and  about 
twenty  dollars  in  money  !  Surely  Abraham's  father 
could  not  boast  much  of  this  world's  goods  !  And 
then  what  an  article  to  take  in  exchange  for  a  home 
stead  !  What  a  prospect  for  his  son  !  Many  a 
homestead  is  now  bartered  away  for  whiskey,  or 
some  other  intoxicating  beverage,  and  haggard  want 
is  all  that  remains.  But  not  so  in  this  case.  Mr. 
Lincoln  did  not  countenance  immoderate  drinking. 
He  used  whiskey  to  some  extent,  in  common  with 
everybody  else,  but  he  frowned  upon  intemperance. 

Such  a  transaction  as  the  above  was  not  thought 
singular  at  that  day.  Good  people  sold' and  drank 
whiskey.  There  was  no  temperance  movement  in 
Kentucky  at  that  time.  Indeed,  it  was  not  until 
about  that  time  that  the  subject  of  temperance  at 
tracted  attention  in  New  England,  and  then  it  did 
not  assume  the  form  of  total  abstinence.  The 
pledge  required  persons  to  abstain  from  immod 
erate  drinking.  It  was  not  till  fifteen  years  after 
that  time  that  the  pledge  of  total  abstinence  was 
adopted. 

At  the  present  day,  the  sale  of  a  place  for  whis 
key  would  excite  surprise  and  amazement,  and  sub 
ject  the  character  of  the  recipient  of  the  whiskey 
to  suspicion,  at  least.  People  would  make  remarks 


70  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

about  it,  and  strongly  suspect  that  the  man  loved 
whiskey  more  than  real  estate.  But  not  so  at  that 
time,  when  the  sale  and  use  of  it  was  regarded 
right  and  proper  all  over  the  country.  It  is  in  this 
light  that  the  reader  is  to  view  the  affair. 

"  You  will  have  enough  to  do  to  get  ready  in  that 
time,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln,  "  if  you  are  going  to  build 
a  flat-boat." 

"  Very  like ;  but  I  think  I  can  do  it.  It 's  no 
great  affair  to  build  a  flat-boat  that  will  carry  my 
things  to  Indiana." 

Mr.  Lincoln  worked  at  the  business  of  a  carpen 
ter  when  he  had  an  opportunity,  so  that  he  could 
readily  turn  his  hand  to  boat-making.  He  had  con 
siderable  tact  in  that  way,  and  it  was  this  kind  of 
business  that  brought  him  in  contact  with  slave 
holders  and  wealthy  men,  who  looked  down  upon 
him  as  a  menial  of  hardly  so  much  account  as  a 
slave. 

"  You  must  give  me  a  hclpin'  hand,  Abe,"  he 
continued  ;  "  you  are  gettin'  old  enough  now  to 
take  right  hold  of  work ;  and  when  we  get  to  In 
diana,  we  shall  have  a  plenty  of  real  pioneer  work 
for  you  to  do." 

"  That  I  shall  like,"  answered  Abraham ;  "  and  I 
can  do  somethin'  now  to  help  you  get  ready." 

"  Well,  to-morrow  we  '11  make  a  beginning.  "We  '11 
go  down  on  the  Rolling  Fork,  and  see  what  we  can 
find  to  make  a  boat  of.  And  we  've  got  that  corn 


.    THE   SALE.  71 

to  harvest,  too,  and  much  more  besides  that  to  do, 
before  we  can  go." 

Mr.  Lincoln  lived  about  one  mile  from  the  Roll 
ing  Fork  River,  so  that  it  was  an  easy  thing  to 
move  on  a  boat.  He  coald  launch  his  boat  on  the 
river,  and  push  right  down  into  the  broad  Ohio. 


PULLING  UP  STAKES. 

A  KRANGEMENTS  were  completed  for  mov- 
XJL.  ing.  The  flat-boat  was  finished,  the  whiskey 
was  received,  a  settlement  made  with  Mr.  Colby, 
and  the  numerous  little  things  that  remain  to  be 
done  before  "  pulling  up  stakes,"  as  Mr.  Lincoln 
called  it,  were  attended  to. 

Parson  Elkins  had  been  round  since  the  place 
was  sold,  and  they  had  heard  him  preach  once 
more ;  nor  could  they  help  thinking  that  it  might 
be  for  the  last  time.  Yery  serious  thoughts  pos 
sessed  their  minds  as  they  sat  willing  listeners  to 
him.  They  had  enjoyed  but  few  advantages  in 
Kentucky,  and  they  were  going  where  they  would 
have  fewer  still,  at  least  for  a  time.  They  well 
understood  this.  They  were  about  to  become 
pioneers  in  a  more  important  sense,  and  it  was  no 
trifling  bubiness  to  grapple  with  the  difficulties 
before  them.  True,  they  were  not  going  a  great 
way,  —  only  about  one  hundred  miles.  But  this 
would  take  them  into  the  wilderness,  where  neither 
schools,  churches,  nor  many  people  could  be  found. 


PULLLNG  UP   STAKES.  78 

It  was  a  change  for  them,  —  a  great  change,  —  and, 
as  the  time  of  their  departure  drew  near,  they  real 
ized  it  more  and  more. 

"  Some  work  to  pull  up  stakes  for  good,"  said 
Mr.  Lincoln  to  Colby  ;  "  more  than  I  thought 
for." 

"  I  know  that  by  experience,"  answered  Colby. 

"  Well,  this  is  my  first  experience,  and  I  don't 
know  but  I  shall  repent  of  my  course." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  Colby.  u  I  trust  that  both 
of  us  will  be  benefited  by  the  move." 

They  were  now  standing  upon  the  bank  of  the 
Rolling  Fork  River,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  ready  to 
embark. 

It  had  been  arranged,  finally,  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
should  take  all  their  heavy  wares,  like  his  carpen 
ters'  tools,  pots,  kettles,  furniture,  whiskey,  <fec.,  &c., 
and  proceed  to  Indiana,  select  a  place  to  settle, 
and  then  return  for  his  family. 

"  Jump  ashore,  Abe,"  said  his  father ;  "  you  are 
spry  as  a  cat ;  and  I  must  be  off."  The  boy  was 
amusing  himself  oh  the  boat. 

"  Where  's  my  axe  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  It 's  all  safe  on  board."  His  father  had  pur 
chased  him  an  axe  with  which  he  was  going  to  set 
him  to  work  in  Indiana,  as  soon  as  they  reached 
their  destination.  The  axe  is  the  symbol  of  pioneer 
work,  so  that  he  must  have  one  to  be  a  pioneer 
boy.  To  Abraham  it  was  a  great  prize,  and  it  was 

4 


74       '  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

not  strange  that  he  thought  of  his  axe  first  and 
last. 

"  Perhaps  you  won't  think  so  much  of  it  after 
you  have  been  obliged  to  swing  it  awhile  in  the 
woods,"  continued  his  father.  "  There 's  some 
work  in  it,  you  '11  find." 

"  Be  careful,  Abe,  how  you  step,"  said  his  mother, 
"  or  you  will  be  into  the  water  before  you  get 
ashore." 

"  I  '11  look  out  for  that,"  replied  the  boy,  as  he 
jumped  to  the  bank. 

"  How  long  will  you  be  gone  ?  "  asked  Colby. 

"  Ten  or  twelve  days  if  I  have  good  luck," 
replied  Lincoln. 

"  If  you  upset  in  the  river,  we  shall  have  to  wait 
a  little  longer  for  you,"  added  Colby,  dryly. 

"  Yes ;  but  I  don't  expect  that.  I  've  fixed  my 
cargo  so  that  I  expect  to  keep  right  side  up,  and 
sail  along  smoothly." 

"  I  hope  you  will,"  added  Mrs.  Lincoln. 

Having  thus  arranged  everything,  Mr.  Lincoln 
pushed  off  the  craft  into  deeper^  water,  and  was 
soon  on  his  way  down  the  river.  The  weather  was 
fine,  and  the  boat  floated  along  pleasantly,  much  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  adventurer. 

We  cannot  stop  to  detail  much  that  occurred  on 
the  voyage.  One  incident,  however,  deserves  atten 
tion. 

He  had  sailed  down  the  Rolling  Fork  into  the 


PULLING  UP   STAKES.  75 

Ohio  River,  and  proceeded  quite  a  distance  on  his 
voyage,  experiencing  no  perils  of  wind  or  storm ; 
and  he  was  congratulating  himself  upon  his  success, 
when  he  met  with  an  accident.  By  some  mishap, 
the  boat  tilted,  and  the  whiskey  rolled  from  its  posi 
tion  to  the  side,  causing  him  to  upset.  He  sprung 
forward  to  the  other  side  in  order  to  save  his  boat, 
but  it  was  too  late.  The  whiskey  was  heavy,  and, 
once  started  from  its  position,  there  was  no  saving 
it  or  the  boat.  In  a  moment  he  was  tipped  into  the 
water,  with  all  his  cargo.  It  was  a  good  place  for 
the  whiskey,  but  not  so  pleasant  for  him.  However, 
he  clung  to  the  boat,  and  made  the  best  of  it. 

"  Hold  on  there ! "  shouted  a  man  who  was  at 
work  with  three  others  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
"  Hold  on,  and  we  '11  come  to  your  help."  He  was 
not  more  than  three  rods  from  the  bank. 

"  Quick  as  you  can,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"  We  '11  be  there  in  a  jiffy,"  bawled  one  of  them, 
and  all  ran  for  a  boat  that  was  tied  about  twenty 
rods  below. 

One  of  the  number  leaped  into  it,  and  plying  the 
oar  with  all  his  might,  he  soon  reached  the  craft  that 
was  upset,  and  took  Mr.  Lincoln  on  board. 

44  Bad  business  for  you,"  said  the  man. 

44  Not  so  bad  as  it  might  be,"  answered  Mr.  Lin 
coln.  "  Rather  lucky  I  think  to  meet  with  such  an 
accident  where  help  is  close  by." 

"  But  you  've  lost  your  cargo,  though  we  may 
save  some  of  it  if  we  set  about  it." 


76  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

u  Won't  save  much  of  it,  I  'm  thinkin'.  The  wa 
ter  is  ten  or  fifteen  feet  deep  there." 

"  Hardly  that." 

"  Pretty  near  it,  I  '11  warrant." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  bank  of  the 
river,  and  the  men  were  consulting  together  about 
righting  Lincoln's  boat  and  saving  his  cargo.  Such 
accidents  were  not  uncommon  on  the  Ohio,  and 
those  who  lived  along  the  bank  had  lent  a  helping 
hand  to  many  unfortunate  adventurers.  This  was 
the  case  with  the  men  who  came  to  Lincoln's  rescue. 
They  were  not  long  in  laying  their  plans,  nor  dila 
tory  in  executing  them. 

In  a  short  time  they  secured  his  boat,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  putting  it  right  side  up.  They  proceeded 
also  to  save,  so  much  of  his  cargo  as  they  could. 
They  called  other  men  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
with  such  apparatus  as  the  vicinity  afforded,  they 
raked  the  river,  and  recovered  a  part  of  his  car 
penters'  tools,  axes,  a  spider,  and  some  other  arti 
cles.  B}*  much  perseverance  and  hard  labor  they 
succeeded  in  saving  three  barrels  of  the  whiskey. 
All  these  articles  were  reloaded  upon  Lincoln's  boat, 
and,  with  many  thanks  to  the  kind-hearted  men  for 
their  assistance,  he  proceeded  on  his  way. 

Before  starting  again,  however,  he  consulted  the 
men  who  aided  him  with  regard  to  the  future  of  his 
way  ;  and  he  decided,  in  view  of  the  information  de 
rived  from  them,  to  land  at  Thompson's  Ferry,  and 


PULLING  UP   STAKES.  77 

there  secure  a  team  to  convey  his  goods  into  the  in 
terior.  He  had  previously  settled  in  his  mind  what 
part  of  Indiana  he  should  make  his  home,  —  not  the 
exact  spot,  but  about  the  distance  he  should  go  from 
the  Ohio  River. 

Accordingly  he  took  his  boat  and  goods  to  Thomp 
son's  Ferry,  and  there  he  found  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Posey,  whom  he  hired  to  take  him  eighteen  miles 
into  Spencer  County.  This  Posey  owned  a  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  was  quite  well  acquainted  with  that  sec 
tion  of  country. 

"  No  road  into  that  county,"  said  he.  "  We  shall 
have  to  pick  our  way,  and  use  the  axe  some  at  that." 

"  I  'm  sorry  for  that,"  answered  Lincoln.  "  Are 
there  no  settlers  in  that  region  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  here  and  there  one,  and  they  '11  be  right 
glad  to  see  you.  We  can  put  it  through,  if  you 
say  so." 

"  Put  it  through,  then,  I  say,"  —  a  reply  that 
was  characteristic  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  possessed 
remarkable  resolution  and  force  of  character. 

The  man  agreed  to  carry  his  goods  to  his  place 
of  destination,  and  take  his  boat  for  pay.  Lincoln 
would  have  no  further  use  for  his  boat,  so  that  it 
was  a  good  bargain  for  him,  and  equally  good  for 
Posey,  who  wanted  a  boat. 

Accordingly  the  team  was  loaded  with  his  effects, 
and  they  were  soon  on  their  way.  But  within  a 
few  miles  they  were  obliged  to  use  the  axe  to  make 
a  road. 


78  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  Just  as  I  expected,"  said  Posey.  "  I  have  been 
through  the  mill." 

"How  far  do  you  expect  we  shall  have  to  cut 
through  places  like  this  ?  "  inquired  Lincoln. 

"  Far  enough,  I  've  no  doubt ;  this  is  a  real  wil 
derness." 

"  Then  we  must  go  at  it,  if  we  'd  see  the  end 
soon." 

"Yes;  and  hard  work,  too,  it  will  be."  And, 
without  wasting  time  or  breath  on  words,  they  pro 
ceeded  to  cut  a  road  before  them. 

"  I  Ve  cut  through  miles  of  just  such  a  wilder 
ness  as  this,"  said  Posey ;  "  and  I  shouldn't  be 
surprised  if  we  had  to  cut  a  road  half  the  way." 

"  I  hope  not,"  answered  Lincoln.  "  If  I  thought 
BO,  I  should  almost  wish  myself  back  in  Kentucky." 

"  Should,  ha  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  it  would  be  an  everlasting  job  to  cut 
through  to  where  I'm  goin'." 

"  Well,  I  don't  suppose  it  will  be  as  tough  as  this 
much  of  the  way,  but  bad  enough,  no  doubt." 

So  with  the  resolution  of  veteran  pioneers  they 
toiled  on,  sometimes  being  able  to  pick  their  way 
for  a  long  distance  without  chopping,  and  then  com 
ing  to  a  stand-still  in  consequence  of  dense  forests. 
Suffice  to  say,  that  they  were  obliged  to  cut  a  road 
BO  much  of  the  way  that  several  days  were  employed 
in  going  eighteen  miles.  It  was  a  difficult,  weari 
some,  trying  journey,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  often  said, 


PULLING   UP   STAKES.  79 

that  he  never  passed  through  a  harder  experience 
than  he  did  in  going  from  Thompson's  Ferry  to 
Spencer  County,  Indiana. 

Some  five  or  six  miles  south  of  their  place  of 
destination  they  passed  the  cabin  of  a  hospitable 
settler,  who  gave  them  a  hearty  welcome,  and  such 
refreshments  as  his  humble  abode  contained.  He 
was  well  acquainted  with  all  that  region,  too,  and 
suggested  to  Mr.  Lincoln  the  spot  upon  which  he 
decided  to  erect  his  cabin,  and  also  volunteered  to 
accompany  them  thither. 

The  settlers  at  that  day  delighted  to  see  others 
coming  to  their  vicinity  to  dwell,  thus  increasing 
their  neighbors,  and  removing  somewhat  the  lone 
liness  of  pioneer  life.  They  were  ever  ready  to  lend 
a  helping-hand  to  new-comers,  and  to  share  with 
them  the  scanty  blessings  that  Providence  allowed 
them. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  glad  to  reach  the  end  of  his 
journey ;  and  he  found  the  spot  suggested  by  his 
Dew  friend  in  the  cabin,  whose  name  was  Wood,  a 
very  inviting  one. 

"  Better  than  I  expected,"  said  Lincoln.  "  I 
would  n't  ask  for  a  better  place  than  this." 

"  I  've  had  my  eye  on  it  some  time,"  replied 
Wood. 

"  Chance  for  more  settlers,  though,"  continued 
Lincoln.  "  One  cabin  in  eighteen  miles  ain't  very 
thick." 


80  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  That 's  so,"  added  Posey.  "  There  's  elbow- 
room  for  a  few  more  families,  and  it  won't  be  long 
before  they'll  be  here." 

"  But  you  've  neighbors  nearer  than  that,"  said 
Wood.  "  There  's  one  family  not  more  than  two 
miles  east  of  here." 

"  Then  I  shall  have  two  neighbors,"  said  Lincoln. 

"  And  there  are  two  other  families  within  six  or 
eight  miles,  —  one  of  them  is  north,  and  the  other 
west,"  continued  Wood.  "  The  fact  is,  people  are 
flockin'  into  this  Free  State  fast." 

"  That 's  why  I  've  come,"  answered  Lincoln. 
"  I  've  got  enough  of  slavery,  if  I  live  to  be  as  old 
as  Methuselah." 

"  That 's  it.  I  know  just  how  you  feel.  I  lived 
in  Kentucky  myself,  till  about  ten  years  ago." 

We  must  not  dwell.  Posey  returned  with  his 
team  to  Thompson's  Ferry,  and  Mr.  Lincoln,  hav 
ing  deposited  his  goods  and  secured  Mr.  Wood's 
promise  to  look  after  them,  directed  his  steps  on 
foot  back  to  his  family.  We  have  said  that  it  was 
about  one  hundred  miles  from  his  old  home  in 
Kentucky  to  his  new  one  in  Indiana.  This  was 
the  distance,  in  a  direct  line.  It  was  twenty-five 
miles  farther,  the  way  Mr.  Lincoln  came.  It  was  a 
part  of  his  plan  to  return  on  foot.  A  direct  line, 
about  southeast,  would  bring  him  to  Hardin 
County,  —  a  three  days'  journey. 

Hie?  family  gave  him  a  cordial  welcome,  and  Abra- 


PULLING  UP   STAKES.  81 

ham  was  somewhat  taken  with  the  story  of  his  fa 
ther's  adventure,  particularly  the  part  relating  to 
his  plunge  into  the  Ohio  River. 

Hasty  preparations  were  made  to  remove  the 
family,  and  such  things  as  he  did  not  take  with 
him  on  the  boat.  He  took  no  bedding  or  apparel 
with  him  on  the  boat.  These  were  left  to  go  with 
the  family,  on  horseback.  Three  horses  were  pro 
vided,  all  of  which  Mr.  Lincoln  owned.  On  these 
were  packed  the  aforesaid  articles,  and  Mrs.  Lin 
coln  and  her  daughter  rode  one,  and  Abraham 
another,  while  his  father  took  charge  of  the  third, 
sometimes  riding  and  sometimes  walking. 

They  were  seven  days  in  performing  the  journey, 
camping  out  nights,  with  no  other  shelter  than  the 
starry  skies  over  them,  and  no  other  bed  than 
blankets  spread  upon  the  ground. 

It  was  a  novel  experience  even  to  them,  nor  was 
it  without  its  perils.  Yet  they  had  no  fears.  In 
that  country,  at  that  day,  neither  man  nor  woman 
allowed  themselves  to  cower  in  the  presence  of 
dangers. 

Females  were  not  the  timid  class  that  they  are 
now.  They  were  distinguished  for  heroism  that 
was  truly  wonderful.  Inured  as  they  were  to 
hardships  and  perils,  they  learned  to  look  dangers 
steadily  in  the  face,  and  to  consider  great  priva 
tions  as  incidental  to  pioneer  life.  Experiences 
that  would  now  destroy  the  happiness  of  most  of 


82  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

the  sex  then  served  to  develop  the  courage  and 
other  intrepid  virtues  that  qualified  them  for  the 
mission  God  designed  they  should  fulfil. 

Many  facts  are  found  in  history  illustrating  the 
heroism  of  Western  females,  in  the  early  settlement 
of  that  part  of  our  country.  Soon  after  Abra 
ham's  grandfather  removed  to  Kentucky,  an  In 
dian  entered  the  cabin  of  a  Mr.  Daviess,  armed 
with  gun  and  tomahawk,  for  the  purpose  of  plun 
dering  it,  and  capturing  the  family.  Mrs.  Daviess 
was  alone  with  her  children.  With  remarkable 
presence  of  mind,  she  invited  the  Indian  to  drink, 
at  the  same  time  setting  a  bottle  of  whiskey  on  the 
table.  The  Indian  set  down  his  gun  to  pour  out 
a  dram,  and  at  once  Mrs.  Daviess  seized  it,  and, 
aiming  it  at  his  head,  threatened  to  blow  his  brains 
out  if  he  did  not  surrender.  The  Indian  dropped 
the  bottle,  sat  down  upon  a  stool,  and  promised 
to  do  no  harm  if  she  would  not  fire.  In  that  pos 
ture  she  kept  him  until  her  husband  arrived. 

In  another  instance,  about  the  same  time,  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Merrill  was  attacked  in  the  night 
by  several  Indians,  and  Mr.  Merrill  was  seriously 
wounded  as  he  Vent  to  the  door.  The  savages 
attempted  to  enter  the  house,  when  Mrs.  Merrill 
and  her  daughter  shut  the  door  against  them,  and 
held  it.  Then  the  Indians  hewed  away  a  part  of 
the  door,  so  that  one  of  them  could  get  in  at  a 
time.  But  Mrs.  Merrill,  though  her  husband  lay 


PULLING  UP   STAKES.  83 

groaning  and  weltering  in  his  blood,  and  her  chil 
dren  were  screaming  with  fright,  seized  an  axe, 
when  the  first  one  had  got  partly  into  the  room, 
and  dealt  upon  him  a  mortal  blow.  Then  she 
drew  his  body  in,  and  waited  for  the  approach  of 
another.  The  Indians,  supposing  that  their  com 
rade  had  forced  an  entrance,  were  exultant,  and 
proceeded  to  follow  him.  Nor  did  they  discover 
their  mistake  until  she  had  despatched  four  of 
them  in  this  way.  Then  two  of  them  attempted 
to  descend  the  chimney,  whereupon  she  ordered 
her  children  to  empty  the  contents  of  a  bed  upon 
the  fire ;  and  the  fire  and  smoke  soon  brought 
down  two  Indians,  half  suffocated,  into  the  room. 
Mr.  Merrill,  by  a  desperate  exertion,  rose  up, 
and  speedily  finished  these  two  with  a  billet  of 
wood.  At  the  same  time  his  wife  dealt  so  heavy 
a  blow  upon  the  only  remaining  Indian  at  the  door, 
that  he  was  glad  to  retire. 

Volumes  might  be  filled  with  stories  that  show 
the  heroism  of  Western  women  at  that  day.  We 
have  cited  these  two  examples  simply  to  exhibit  their 
fortitude.  Mrs.  Lincoln  was  a  resolute,  fearless  wo 
man,  like  her  pioneer  sisters,  and  hence  was  cool 
and  self-possessed  amidst  all  exposures  and  dangers. 
She  was  a  pious  heroine ;  and  such  nights  as  those 
they  spent  on  their  way  to  Indiana  only  served  to 
fill  her  heart  with  thoughts  of  Him  who  watched 
over  them  by  night  and  day. 


84  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

We  said  they  were  seven  days  on  the  journey. 
Two  miles  from  their  destination  they  came  to  the 
cabin  of  their  nearest  neighbor,  Mr.  Neale,  who 
treated  them  with  great  kindness,  and  promised  to 
assist  them  on  the  following  day  in  putting  up  a 
dwelling.  It  was  a  pleasant  proffer  of  assistance, 
and  it  served  to  make  them  happier  as  they  laid 
down  in  their  blankets  on  the  first  night  of  their 
residence  in  Spencer  County,  Indiana. 

We  have  been  thus  particular,  in  this  part  of  the 
narrative,  because  this  experience  had  much  to  do 
with  the  development  of  that  courage,  energy,  de 
cision,  and  perseverance  for  which  Abraham  was 
thereafter  distinguished. 


VII. 

THE  PIONEEE  BOY. 

,  Abe,"  called  his  father,  as  soon  as  it  was 
light  enough  to  see  in  the  morning;  "you 
begin  to  be  a  pioneer  boy  in  earnest  to-day.  Your 
axe  is  waitin'  for  you.  We  must  get  us  up  a  cabin 
as  soon  as  possible." 

"  The  quicker  the  better,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln  ;  "  if 
there  should  come  a  storm,  we  should  be  in  a  pretty 
plight." 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  "  asked  Abraham,  who  by  this 
time  was  on  his  feet. 

"  Cut  down  the  first  tree  you  come  to ;  all  this 
land  will  be  cleared  in  time,  and  110  matter  how 
quick  the  trees  fall." 

"  But  you  want  trees  cut  first  for  the  house,  don't 
you?" 

"  Yes,  any  of  them  will  do  for  that.  You  can't 
do  much  ;  but  every  little  helps,  and  you  must  be 
gin,  if  you  are  goin'  to  be  a  pioneer."  And  Abra 
ham  went  at  it. 

Sure  enough,  there  he  is,  a  boy  only  eight  years 
old,  cutting  away  at  a  tree,  to  aid  his  father  in  rear- 


86  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

ing  a  cabin  to  shelter  them.  Nor  is  he  to  stop  when 
the  dwelling  is  completed,  for  there  are  acres  of 
land  around  that  are  to  be  cleared  for  a  farm.  On 
that  eventful  morning  he  began  to  swing  the  axe, 
and  he  continued  at  the  business  most  of  the  time 
until  he  was  past  twenty  years  of  age. 

He  seems  but  a  little  boy  to  engage  in  such  labo 
rious  work ;  but  the  pioneer  boys  of  eight  years,  at 
that  day,  were  as  efficient  for  labor  as  boys  are  now 
at  fifteen.  They  were  early  put  to  labor,  so  that 
tact  and  muscular  power  were  early  developed. 
They  were  equally  courageous  too.  Many  thrilling 
stories  are  told  of  their  heroism,  that  would  do 
honor  to  experienced  men.  One  of  these  historic 
records  is,  that  two  boys  by  the  name  of  Johnson, 
one  nine  and  the  other  twelve  years  of  age,  were 
taken  captive  by  two  Indians  near  the  present  site 
of  Steubenville,  Kentucky.  At  night,  when  the 
Indians  were  fast  asleep,  one  took  a  rifle  and  the 
other  a  tomahawk,  and  simultaneously  killed  their 
captors,  and  then  escaped  to  their  homes. 

"  I  will  shoot  a  turkey  for  you,  mother,  to  cook 
before  I  go  to  choppin',"  Mr.  Lincoln  continued. 
The  forest  abounded  in  game,  among  which  were 
wild  turkeys  and  doer,  and  the  settlers  depended 
mainly  upon  their  rifles  for  a  supply  of  meat.  "  It 
will  take  me  but  a  few  minutes." 

"  Abe  must  learn  to  use  the  rifle  next,"  said  his 
mother.  u  He  can  often  do  us  good  service  in  this 
way,  if  he  '11  make  a  good  marksman." 


,  -.>*; 


THE     PIONEER     BOY 


THE   PIONEER   BOY.  87 

"I  should  like  that,"  answered  Abraham,  who 
heard  the  remark. 

"  We  '11  attend  to  that  in  season,"  said  his  father. 
"You  shall  try  your  skill  all  you  want  to  one  of 
these  days."  And  Mr.  Lincoln  hurried  away  for  his 
game.  It  was  not  more  than  five  minutes  before 
the  discharge  of  his  rifle  was  heard,  and  within  five 
minutes  more  he  returned  with  a  turkey. 

By  this  time  Mrs.  Lincoln  had  some  simple  food 
prepared  for  their  morning  meal,  and  just  as  they 
had  finished  partaking  of  it,  Mr.  Neale,  the  neighbor 
who  promised  to  come  and  aid  them  in  putting  up 
a  cabin,  made  his  appearance. 

"  Good  mornin',  Mr.  Neale  ?  I  hardly  expected 
to  see  you  so  early,"  was  Mr.  Lincoln's  greeting. 

"  Short  days  these,  and  when  a  family  is  without 
shelter,  we  must  make  the  most  of  time,"  replied 
Mr.  Neale.  "  But  here  is  a  piece  of  venison  which 
my  wife  sent.  She  thought  how  good  such  a  bite 
would  have  tasted  to  her  two  years  ago,  when  we 
were  doin'  just  what  you  are  now." 

"  She  is  very  kind,"  answered  Mrs.  Lincoln,  taking 
the  meat,  and  removing  the  cloth  from  it.  "  And  it 
is  all  nicely  cooked,  too." 

"  Yes,  she  thought  she  could  do  that  better  than 
you  can  just  now." 

"  How  thoughtful  she  is  !  I  hope  we  snail  make 
as  good  neighbors  to  her  as  she  is  to  us." 

"I've  just  shot   a   turkey,"    said   Mr.    Lincoln, 


88  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

"  and  my  wife  was  goin'  to  try  her  hand  at  cookin* 
it.  Game  must  be  very  plenty  here." 

"  It  can't  be  plentier  ;  no  danger  of  starvin'  here  ; 
you  can  shoot  deer  and  turkeys  enough  by  goin'  ten 
rods  for  your  family  the  year  round." 

"  That 's  a  fine  tiling  for  pioneers  like  us." 

"  We  could  n't  do  much  if  it  wa'n't  so." 

"  That 's  certain  ;  I  should  hardly  dare  to  get  so 
far  away  from  people  if  it  wa'n't  so." 

"  Nor  anybody  else.  But  I  come  to  work ;  and 
now  just  tell  me  where  to  go  at  it,  and  I  '11  waste  no 
more  time.  By  the  way,  ain't  this  a  real  pleasant 
spot  to  camp  down  in  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  we  could  have  found  a  pleasanter 
one,"  answered  Mrs.  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  new  friend  Neale,  witli  little 
Abraham,  proceeded  to  chopping  trees,  and  prepar 
ing  the  logs  for  the  house.  For  a  boy  of  his  age, 
Abraham  exhibited  remarkable  tact  and  endurance, 
so  much  so  as  to  elicit  remarks  from  all,  together 
with  cautions  against  overdoing.  His  interest  and 
energy  in  the  new  work  denoted  that  he  would  be 
a  pioneer  boy  of  mark. 

"  Better  build  your  home  like  mine,"  said  Neale; 
"  it  's  easy  made  and  handy.  There  's  nothing 
better  than  a  half-faced  camp." 

"  I  'd  as  quick  have  that  as  any  ;  I  want  to  get 
our  heads  covered  pretty  soon.  In  fact,  that  was 
the  kind  of  cabin  we  had  in  Kentucky." 


THE  PIONEER  BOY.  89 

"  It  won't  take  long  to  do  that.  We  can  cut 
nearly  logs  enough  to-day  ;  and  then  we  can  put 
it  through  in  a  hurry." 

"  Can  you  help  me  through  with  it  ?  " 

"  0  yes  ;  that 's  what  I  'm  goin'  to  do.  I  can  do 
it  as  well  as  not." 

"  I  '11  try  that  you  shaVt  be  a  loser.  Perhaps 
you  will  want  a  good  turn  done  you  one  of  these 
days." 

"  No  doubt  I  shall  want  a  good  many  of  them. 
There  's  Abe  (and  he  glanced  his  eye  at  the  boy, 
who  was  listening,  evidently  intending  to  compli 
ment  him),  he  '11  make  such  a  worker  that  I  shall 
want  to  have  him  try  his  hand  for  me  some  time." 

"  He  '11  like  to  do  it,  I  'm  thinkin'.  Abe  hain't  a 
lazy  bone  in  him." 

"  He  'd  work  'em  all  out,  if  he  had,  pretty  soon, 
I  reckon."  Mr.  Neale  intended  this  remark  for 
Abraham's  ear,  and  the  lad  received  it  in  the  same 
spirit  that  it  was  given. 

Thus  chatting,  working,  and  planning,  the  day 
was  spent,  —  the  first  day  of  Abraham's  actual  pi 
oneer  life,  —  and  much  was  done  towards  rear 
ing  an  abode.  On  the  following  day,  Mr.  Wood, 
who  had  learned  of  their  arrival,  tendered  his  as 
sistance. 

We  have  not  time  to  enter  into  particulars  about 
the  house-building.  We  can  say  no  more,  than  that 
the  house  was  ready  to  receive  its  tenants  in  two 


90  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

days,  although  it  was  not  then  completed.  It  was 
so  far  along,  however,  as  to  afford  convenient  shel 
ter.  We  will  give  a  description  of  it,  furnished  by 
one  who  often  found  shelter  under  its  roof,  and  who 
lived  many  years  close  by  it. 

It  was  sixteen  by  eighteen  feet  in  size,  without  a 
floor,  the  logs  put  together  at  the  corners  by  the 
usual  method  of  notching  them,  and  the  cracks  be 
tween  them  stopped  with  clay.  It  had  a  shed-roof, 
covered  with  slabs  or  clapboards  split  from  logs.  It 
contained  but  one  room,  except  overhead  slabs  were 
laid  across  the  logs,  so  as  to  make  a  chamber,  to 
which  access  was  had  by  a  ladder  in  one  corner.  It 
had  one  door  and  one  window.  The  latter,  however, 
was  so  ingeniously  constructed,  that  it  deserves  par 
ticular  attention.  Mr.  Lincoln  made  a  sash  of  the 
size  of  four  six-by-eight  squares  of  glass,  and,  in 
place  of  glass,  which  could  not  be  obtained  in  that 
region,  he  took  the  skin  that  covers  the  fat  portion 
of  a  hog,  called  the  leaves,  and  drew  it  over  the  sash 
tight.  This  furnished  a  very  good  substitute  for 
glass  ;  and  the  contrivance  reflected  some  credit 
upon  the  inventive  genius  of  the  builder. 

The  cabin  was  furnished  by  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
Abraham  without  other  assistance,  and  we  will  give 
some  account  of  the  way  of  doing  it. 

"  Bring  me  the  auger,  Abe,"  said  his  father, 
"  and  that  measure,  too  ;  we  must  have  a  bedstead 


THE  PIONEER  BOY.  91 

"  1  can  bore  the  holes,"  answered  Abraham,  at 
the  same  time  bringing  the  auger  and  measure. 

"  No,  you  can't.  It  's  tough  work  to  bore  two- 
inch  holes  into  such  logs  as  these.  But  you  can  go 
and  find  me  a  stick  for  a  post,  and  two  others  to  lay 
on  it." 

"That  all?" 

"  Yes,  that 's  all.  I  '11  just  make  it  in  that 
corner,  and  then  I  shall  have  but  two  holes  to 
bore,  and  one  post  to  set  up.  It 's  not  more  than 
an  hour's  work." 

By  making  the  bedstead  in  the  corner,  the  work 
was  but  small.  He  measured  off  eight  feet  on  one 
side,  and  bored  one  hole,  then  four  and  a  half  feet 
on  the  end,  and  bored  another  hole.  Then  setting 
up  the  post  in  its  place,  two  sticks  from  each  auger- 
hole  would  meet  on  the  post,  thus  making  the 
framework  of  the  bed.  This  was  soon  done. 

a  Now  for  the  bed-cord,  Abe,"  said  his  father, 
jocosely.  "  We  must  have  something  to  lay  the 
bed  on." 

"  I  thought  you  laid  on  slabs,"  answered  Abra 
ham,  not  exactly  comprehending  the  drift  of  his 
father's  remark. 

"  We  have  n't  any  other  bed-cord,  so  pass  me 
some  of  those  yonder."  The  slabs  used  to  lay  over 
the  bed-frame  were  like  those  on  the  roof. 

"  How  many  shall  I  bring  ?  "  and  he  began  to 
pass  the  slabs. 


92  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

"  About  six,  I  think,  will  do  it." 

They  were  soon  brought,  and  the  bed  was  com 
plete. 

"  Now  a  sackful  of  straw  on  that  will  make  a 
fine  bed."  Dry  leaves,  hay  and  husks  were  some 
times  used  for  this  purpose.  Few  had  feathers  in 
that  region. 

"  You  must  keep  on  with  your  cabinet-making," 
said  Mrs.  Lincoln.  "  We  need  a  table  as  much  as 
a  bed." 

"  Of  course.  That  comes  next,"  replied  her  hus 
band.  "  The  legs  for  it  are  all  ready." 

"  Where  are  they  ?  "  inquired  Abraham. 

"  Out  there,"  pointing  to  a  small  pile  of  limbs, 
sticks,  and  slabs.  Abraham  went  after  them,  while 
his  father  sawed  off  a  puncheon  of  the  required 
length  for  the  table.  A  puncheon  was  made  by 
splitting  a  log  eighteen  inches,  more  or  less,  in 
diameter,  the  flat  side  laid  uppermost.  Puncheons 
were  used  in  this  way  to  make  tables,  stools,  and 
floors. 

By  the  time  Abraham  had  brought  the  sticks  for 
the  legs  of  the  table,  his  father  had  the  table  part 
all  ready,  and  was  proceeding  to  bore  the  holes  for 
the  legs. 

"  Now  you  may  bring  some  more  of  those  sticks 
in  the  pile,  —  the  shortest  of  them  I  shall  want 
next?" 

"  What  for  ? " 


THE    PIONEER   BOY.  93 

"  0,  we  must  have  some  chairs  now ;  we  've  set 
on  the  ground  long  enough.  I  want  the  sticks  for 
legs." 

"  Enough  for  one  stool  each  now  will  do.  We  '11 
make  some  extra  ones  when  we  get  over  our  hurry. 
Pour  times  three  are  twelve  :  I  shall  want  twelve." 

"  Must  they  be  just  alike  ?  " 

"  No  ;  you  can't  find  two  alike,  hardly.  If  they 
are  too  long,  I  can  saw  them  the  right  length." 

All  this  time  the  work  of  making  the  table  went 
on.  As  Abraham  had  so  large  a  number  of  stool- 
legs  to  select  and  bring  from  the  pile,  the  table  was 
nearly  completed  when  his  part  of  the  work  was 
done. 

"  A  scrumptious  table,  I  'm  thinkin',"  said  Mr. 
Lincoln,  as  he  surveyed  it  when  it  was  fairly  on  its 
legs.  "  Pioneer  cabinet-work  ain't  handsome,  but 
it 's  durable." 

"  And  useful,  too,"  said  his  wife.  "  Two  of  them 
would  n't  come  amiss." 

"  No ;  and  when  I  get  time  we  '11  have  another. 
Perhaps  Abe  can  make  you  one  some  time.  Can't 
you  make  a  table,  Abe  ?  " 

"  I  can  try  it." 

"  Well,  you  ought  to  succeed,  now  you  have  seen 
me  do  it.  You  can  try  your  hand  at  it  some  day. 
But  now  for  the  stools." 

A  good  slab  was  selected,  of  which  four  stools 
could  be  made  ;  and  before  night  the  house  was 


94  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

furnished  at  small  expense.  A  bed,  table,  and 
stools  constituted  the  furniture  of  this  pioneer 
home,  in  which  Abraham  spent  twelve  years  of  his 
eventful  life. 

Abraham  occupied  the  loft  above,  ascending  to 
his  lodgings  by  the  ladder.  It  was  his  parlor- 
chamber,  where  he  slept  soundly  at  night  on  the 
loose  floor,  with  no  other  bedding  than  blankets. 
Here  year  after  year  he  reposed  nightly  with  as 
much  content  and  bliss  as  we  usually  find  in  the 
mansions  of  the  rich.  He  had  never  known  better 
fare  than  this  ;  and  perhaps,  at  that  age,  he  did  not 
expect  a  larger  share  of  worldly  goods. 

Here,  reader,  you  have  a  view  of  the  pioneer 
boy's  early  home.  Do  you  like  it  ?  How  does  it 
compare  with  your  own  ?  There  were  not  many 
attractions  about  it  certainly.  It  does  not  look  as 
if  the  poor  boy  in  that  floorless,  dismal  cabin  would 
ever  make  his  mark  in  the  world.  But  "  where 
there  's  a  will,  there 's  a  way."  His  condition  could 
not  be  much  more  deplorable,  so  far  as  external 
circumstances  are  concerned.  But  then  he  had 
Christian  parents  to  instruct  and  guide  him,  and 
a  high  and  noble  purpose  animated  his  soul.  We 
shall  see  how  he  came  out. 


THE  GRIST-MILL. 

THE  pioneer  families  of  that  day  needed  the 
means  of  converting  their  corn  into  meal. 
Meal  was  a  staple  article  of  food,  without  which 
they  could  scarcely  survive.  Yet  there  were  few 
grist-mills  in  all  the  region  for  many  miles  around, 
and  these  were  poor  things  compared  with  the 
mills  of  the  present  day.  They  were  worked  by 
horse-power,  and  could  grind  but  little  faster  than 
corn  could  be  pounded  into  meal  now  with  a  mortar 
and  pestle. 

The  Lincoln  family  must  have  meal.  Their 
cabin  was  completed,  and  they  had  settled  down  to 
spend  the  first  winter  of  pioneer  life  in  the  Free 
State  of  Indiana. 

"  How  far  to  a  mill  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  None  nearer  than  the  Ferry,"  replied  his 
father  ;  "  and  they  say  that 's  an  old  thing  that  ain't 
wuth  much." 

"  I  can  go  there  to  mill  for  you,"  continued  the 
boy. 

.  "  I  'm  going  to  have  a  mill  nearer  home   than 
that,  —  one  of  my  own  make." 


96  THE    PIONEER    BOT. 

«  HOW  ?  " 

"  You  '11  see  when  it  is  done.  This  goin'  eigh 
teen  miles  to  mill  don't  pay :  we  must  have  one 
right  here." 

"  And  it  won't  take  you  longer  to  make  it  than 
it  would  to  go  to  the  Ferry  once  and  back,"  said 
Mrs.  Lincoln. 

"  It 's  an  all-day  job  to  go  there,  and  a  pretty 
long  day  at  that."  She  knew  what  kind  of  a  mill 
he  referred  to  ;  for  she  had  seen  them. 

"  We  '11  have  one  before  to-morrow  night,"  added 
Mr.  Lincoln,  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulder. 

"  How  will  you  make  it  ?  "  inquired  Abraham, 
who  was -deeply  interested. 

"  You  '11  see  when  it 's  done  ;  I  shall  need  some 
of  your  help,  and  if  you  do  fust  rate,  you  may  try 
the  rifle  next  day."  The  boy  had  been  promised 
before  that  he  should  learn  to  shoot. 

"  I  '11  like  that,"  said  the  lad. 

"  And  so  shall  I,  if  you  make  a  marksman.  You 
can  be  a  great  help  to  us  by  killing  game  to  cook. 
When  you  get  so  that  you  can  pop  over  a  turkey 
or  a  deer,  I  sha'n't  need  to  hunt  any." 

"  Will  you  let  me  do  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  be  glad  to  have  you.  The  woods 
are  full  of  game,  and  you  shall  have  a  chance  to 
make  a  good  shot." 

Abraham  was  delighted  with  the  prospect  of 
making  a  gunner,  and  he  went  to  his  hard  bed  that 


THE    GRIST-MILL.  97 

night  with  glowing  thoughts  of  the  future.  The 
morrow's  sun  found  him  up,  and  ready  to  assist  his 
father  in  making  a  grist-mill. 

"  The  first  thing  is  a  log,"  said  his  father ;  and 
he  proceeded  to  look  for  a  tree  of  suitable  dimen 
sions  ;  nor  was  he  long  in  finding  one. 

"  When  I  get  it  ready,  I  shall  want  you  to  make  a 
fire  on  't,  Abe,"  he  continued. 

"  What !  burn  it  up  ?  "  screamed  the  boy,  not 
understanding  what  his  father  meant. 

"  Ha !  not  quite  so  bad  as  that.  It  would  n't  be 
wuth  much  for  a  mill  if  't  was  burnt  up." 

"  Did  n't  you  say  make  a  fire  on  't  ?  " 

"  Yes,  on  the  top  of  it ;  we  must  burn  a  hole  in 
it  a  foot  deep,  to  put  corn  in ;  so  get  your  fire 
ready. " 

It  was  not  long  before  the  tree  was  prostrate,  and 
a  portion  of  the  trunk  cut  off  about  four  feet  long. 
Setting  it  upon  one  end,  Mr.  Lincoln  continued : 
"  Here,  Abe,  that  's  what  I  mean  by  making  a  fire 
on  't.  You  must  make  a  fire  right  on  the  top  of  it, 
and  burn  a  hole  in  it  wellnigh  a  foot  deep.  I  '11 
help  you." 

The  fire  was  soon  kindled,  and  Abraham's  curios 
ity  was  at  the  highest  pitch.  What  was  coming 
next  was  more  than  he  could  tell,  —  and  no 
wonder ! 

"  Now  bring  some  water ;  we  must  keep  it 
wet." 

5  0 


98  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  And  put  out  the  fire  ?  "  said  Abraham,  inquir 
ingly. 

"  No,  no  ;  we  must  keep  the  outside  of  it  wet,  so 
that  the  whole  of  it  won't  burn.  We  don't  want  to 
burn  the  outside,  —  only  a  hole  in  the  centre." 

Abraham  saw  through  it  now,  and  he  hastened  to 
get  the  water.  The  fire  was  kept  burning  while 
Mr.  Lincoln  looked  up  a  spring-pole,  to  one  end  of 
which  he  attached  a  pestle. 

"  What  is  that  for  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  You  '11  see  when  I  get  it  into  working  order," 
replied  his  father.  "  Keep  the  fire  a-goin'  till  it 's 
burnt  deep  enough." 

"  It  never  '11  burn  deep  as  you  say." 

"  Yes  it  will,  only  keep  doin'.  That 's  the  way 
pioneers  have  to  make  grist-mills." 

"  It  '11  take  more  than  one  day  to  burn  it  any 
how,  at  this  rate." 

"No  it  won't.  It  will  burn  faster  when  it  gets  a 
little  deeper.  We  '11  have  it  done  before  night. 
You  must  have  patience,  and  keep  at  it." 

And  they  continued  at  the  work.  Mr.  Lincoln 
prepared  the  spring-pole  somewhat  like  an  old-fash 
ioned  well-sweep ;  and  it  was  ready  for  use  before 
the  hole  was  burned  deep  enough  in  the  log.  Then, 
with  his  additional  help,  the  log  was  ready  before 
night,  and  the  coal  was  thoroughly  cleaned  out  of 
the  hole,  and  the  pestle  on  the  pole  adapted  thereto. 

This  was  all  the  mill  that  he  proposed  to  have. 


THE    GRIST-MILL.  99 

It  was  the  kind  used  by  many  settlers  at  that  day. 
It  was  a  mortar  and  pestle  on  a  large  scale,  and,  on 
the  whole,  was  much  better  than  to  go  twenty  miles 
to  a  horse-mill  that  could  grind  but  little  faster. 
About  two  quarts  of  corn  could  be  put  into  the  hole 
in  the  log  at  once,  and  a  few  strokes  from  the  pes 
tle  on  the  spring-pole  would  reduce  it  to  meal.  In 
this  way  the  family  could  be  provided  with  meal  at 
short  notice.  The  apparatus,  too,  corresponded 
very  well  with  all  the  surroundings.  For  a  Dutch 
oven  and  spider  constituted  the  culinary  furni 
ture  of  the  cabin.  All  their  other  articles  of  iron 
ware  were  at  the  bottom  of  the  Ohio  River.  The 
spider  was  used  for  griddle,  stew-pan,  gridiron, 
kettle,  and  sundry  other  things,  in  addition  to 
its  legitimate  purpose ;  proving  that  man's  real 
wants  are  few  in  number.  It  is  very  convenient 
to  be  provided  with  all  the  modern  improvements 
in  this  line ;  but  the  experience  of  the  Lincoln 
family  shows  that  happiness  and  life  can  be  pro 
moted  without  them. 

This  mill  served  the  family  an  excellent  purpose 
for  many  years.  It  was  so  simple  that  it  needed  no 
repairs,  and  it  was  not  dependent  either  on  rain  or 
sunshine  for  the  power  to  go.  Any  of  the  family 
could  go  to  mill  here.  Abraham  could  carry  a  grist 
on  his  arm  or  back,  and  play  the  part  of  miller  at 
the  same  time. 

"  A  real  saving,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln  ;  "  if  we  can't 


100  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

do  one  way,  God  has  another  for  us.  It 's  so  handy 
to  have  a  mill  at  the  door.  But  you  '11  have  to  go 
to  the  Ferry  before  long  for  some  other  things." 

"  I  've  been  thinkin'  of  it,"  answered  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"  We  must  have  a  little  tea  and  a  few  things  to 
make  our  humble  fare  relish,"  continued  his  wife  ; 
"  and  it 's  better  goin'  now  than  it  will  be  two  or 
three  weeks  hence,  when  the  snows  come." 

"  I  can't  go  for  two  or  three  days ;  I  must  get 
things  fixed  up  around  the  cabin  first,  and  be  all 
ready  for  the  winter." 

"  That  is  best ;  and  we  ought  to  be  thankful  that 
the  snows  keep  off  so  long.  We  've  had  a  fine  time 
to  prepare  our  new  quarters.  And  now  we're 
getting  settled  down,  Abe,"  turning  to  him,  u  you 
must  attend  to  your  reading  a  little  more,  or  you  '11 
forget  all  you  've  learned." 

"  And  we  can't  have  that,"  added  Mr.  Lincoln, 
"  for  we  '11  need  your  readin'  more  in  the  woods 
here  than  we  did  in  our  old  home." 

"  I  wish  I  could  have  some  other  book  to  read," 
said  Abraham,  in  reply  to  his  father's  and  mother's 
words,  referring  to  the  fact  that  the  Bible  was  the 
only  reading-book  in  the  family. 

"  Why,  there  can  be  no  better  book  in  the  world 
than  the  Bible,"  answered  his  mother  ;  "  and  you 
get  one  thing  in  it  that  you  don't  in  any  other 
book." 

"  What 's  that,  mother  ?  " 


THE   GRIST-MILL.  101 

"  Good  lessons  on  every  page,  and  this  you  may 
not  get  from  another  book,  though  I  don't  object  to 
your  reading  other  books,  if  you  can  get  them." 

"  Perhaps  some  of  the  settlers  in  this  region 
may  have  some  books  that  I  can  borrow,"  said 
Mr.  Lincoln.  "  I  will  remember  it  when  I  see 
any  on  'em.  Till  then,  Abe,  the  Bible  will  have  to 


answer." 


"  And  it  will  answer  well,  too,"  said  his  mother ; 
"he  can't  read  it  too  much,  nor  remember  what 
he  reads  too  long.  Perhaps  he  '11  never  have  an 
other  opportunity  to  go  to  school,  and  he  can 
read  now  pretty  well,  if  he  don't  lose  what  he  has 
learned." 

"  I  can  read  better  now  than  I  could  when  I. 
stopped  goin'  to  school,"  said  Abraham,  as  if  that 
was  sufficient  proof  that  he  would  not  go  back 
wards. 

"I  know  that,"  answered  his  mother;  "now 
you  have  got  started,  you  can  go  along  fast,  and 
that 's  the  reason  I  want  you  should  read  when 
you  can." 

"  J  don't  want  to  read  the  Bible  all  the  time  ; 
i  want  some  other  books,  too." 

"  And  I  wish  you  had  them ;  and  perhaps  the 
Lord  will  provide  a  way  to  get  them."  His 
mother  was  equally  desirous  with  himself  that 
he  should  read  other  books,  but  she  did  not  want 
he  should  undervalue  the  Word  of  God.  She 


102  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

was  more  anxious  that  he  should  think  well  of 
this  volume  than  of  all  others.  Hence  her  re 
marks  concerning  the  Scriptures. 

Abraham  had  improved  remarkably  since  he 
left  going  to  Mr.  Hazel's  school  in  Kentucky. 
He  had  read  under  his  mother's  eye,  and  with  an 
earnest  desire  to  learn,  so  that  his  progress  was 
rapid,  more  so  than  his  parents'  counsel  would 
seem  to  imply. 

During  the  long  winter  evenings  of  that  first 
winter  in  Indiana  he  read  by  the  light  of  the  fire 
only ;  for  they  could  not  afford  the  luxury  of  any 
other  light  in  their  cabin.  This  was  true,  very 
generally,  of  the  pioneer  families :  they  had  no 
more  than  was  absolutely  necessary  to  supply 
their  wants.  They  could  exist  without  lamp-oil 
or  candles,  and  so  most  of  them  did  without  either. 
They  could  afford  the  largest  fire  possible,  since 
wood  was  so  plenty  that  they  studied  to  get  rid 
of  it.  Hence  the  light  of  the  fire  was  almost  equal 
to  a  good  chandelier.  Large  logs  and  branches 
of  wood  were  piled  together  in  the  fireplace  and 
its  mammoth  blaze  lighted  up  every  nook  and 
corner  of  the  dwelling.  Hence  lamps  were  scarcely 
needed. 

Once  more  we  say  to  the  reader,  that  Abra 
ham's  prospects  were  not  very  bright  at  that 
time.  Living  in  a  floorless  log-cabin,  beyond  the 
limits  of  civilization,  with  poverty  pressing  heavily 


THE    GRIST-MILL.  103 

upon  him,  and  little  expectation  of  changing  his 
obscure  condition  for  a  better  one,  we  can 
scarcely  conceive  of  a  more  unpromising  situa 
tion  for  a  boy.  Let  the  reader  keep  this  in 
view. 


IX. 

THE  LUCKY  SHOT. 

THE  winter  passed  away,  and  the  spring  brought 
forth  the  flowers.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  preparing 
to  put  his  first  seed  into  the  soil  of  Indiana. 

"  I  've  been  thinking,"  said  his  wife,  "  that  our 
loss,  when  you  upset  on  the  Ohio  River  was  all  for 
the  best.  I  think  I  can  see  it." 

"  Glad  if  you  can,"  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  "  you  're 
pretty  good  for  seem'  what  nobody  else  can  "  ',  and 
he  uttered  this  sentence  rather  thoughtlessly,  as  his 
mind  was  really  absorbed  in  another  subject. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that ;  but  what  in  the  world 
would  you  have  done  with  all  the  whiskey,  if  we  had 
not  lost  any  of  it  in  the  river  ?  Never  could  sell  it 
all  here,  —  and  what  a  job  it  would  have  been  to 
get  it  here  froni  the  Ferry  !  " 

"  Well,  if  I  did  n't  sell  it,  we  should  be  about  as 
well  off  as  we  are  now." 

"  Except  the  cost  of  getting  the  barrels  here." 

"  That  would  n't  be  much." 

"  Then  there 's  the  danger  of  the  evil  it  might  do. 
It's  dangerous  stuff  any  way,  as  the  case  of  old 
Selby  shows." 


THE   LUCKY  SHOT.  105 

"  I  know  that ;  but  I  don't  fear  for  myself." 

"  Neither  do  I  fear  for  you  ;  but  I  was  thinking 
of  Abe.  You  know  how  it  is  with  boys  in  these 
times,  and  how  much  misery  whiskey  makes  in  a 
great  many  families.  And  I  can't  help  thinkin', 
that  it  is  all  for  the  best  that  most  of  it  is  in  the 
river." 

"  I  can't  say  but  what  it  is ;  I  hope  it  is.  It 
makes  mischief  enough,  if  that 's  all ;  and  if  I 
dreamed  it  would  make  any  in  my  family,  I  should 
wish  that  all  of  it  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  river." 

"  You  may  -as  well  be  glad  now  ;  for  we  have  less 
to  fear  ;  and  perhaps  the  Lord  thought  it  was  best  to 
put  so  much  of  it  where  it  could  n't  injure  no  one." 

"  So  be  it,  then  ;  but  I  must  go  to  my  work. 
This  weather  is  too  fine  to  be  lost  in  doin'  notliiu'. 
The  stuff  is  all  sold  now,  so  that  there  is  no  fear  on 
that  score."  He  sold  a  barrel  to  Posey,  the  team 
ster,  who  hauled  his  goods  from  the  Ferry,  and  the 
remainder  he  disposed  of  in  the  course  of  the 
winter." 

Mr.  Lincoln  arose  and  went  out  to  his  work,  and 
within  ten  minutes  afterwards  Abe  came  rushing 
into  the  cabin  in  a  state  of  great  excitement. 

"  Mother,"  he  exclaimed,  "  there  's  a  turkey  right 
out  here  that  I  can  shoot.  See  it  there,"  and  he 
directed  her  to  look  through  a  crack  in  the 'cabin 
where  the  clay  had  fallen  off.  "  Let  me  shoot  it, 
mother." 

5* 


106  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Sure  enough,  that  is  a  fine  mark.  I  '11  load  the 
rifle,"  answered  his  mother,  as  she  caught  sight  of 
the  fowl,  and  proceeded  to  load  the  rifle. 

"  Be  quick,  mother,  I  '11  fire  right  through  the 
crack. " 

"I'll  have  it  ready  in  a  minute,  —  don't  nyike 
a  noise  and  frighten  her  away." 

Abraham  kept  his  eye  upon  the  bird,  and  waited 
patiently  for  the  loaded  rifle.  His  father  had  in 
structed  him  somewhat  in  the  use  of  the  rifle,  and 
he  had  fired  it  at  different  times  with  much  accu 
racy.  But  he  had  not  levelled  it  at  living  game 
before. 

"  There,"  said  his  mother  ;  "  it 's  all  ready,  and 
you  must  do  your  best  now  to  bring  down  the 
turkey.  I  '11  put  it  through  the  crack  for  you." 
And  she  rested  the  rifle  on  a  log,  so  that  the  muzzle 
lay  in  the  crack  between  the  logs. 

"  Take  good  aim,"  she  continued,  "  and  kill  the 
first  animal  that  you  ever  have  in  your  life." 

"  I  '11  try,"  was  Abraham's  reply,  —  an  answer 
that  he  was  quite  accustomed  to  give.  He  seldom 
expressed  himself  too  confidently,  but  "/'//  try  " 
was  about  as  positive  as  he  was  disposed  to  be. 
And  that  is  really  as  positive  as  a  boy  need  to  be. 
"  I  '11  try  "  has  accomplished  wonders.  It  has  sur- 
moun'ted  obstacles,  and  overcome  difficulties,  of  the 
greatest  magnitude.  Many  boys  do  not  accomplish 
much,  because  they  do  not  TRY.  They  fail  for  want 


THE    LUCKY    SHOT.  107 

of  energy  and  resolution, — just  what  is  implied  in 
the  little  word  TRY.  Not  so  with  Abraham.  "  I  '11 
try  "  was  his  watchword  and  pledge,  and  it  served 
him  a  good  purpose.  As  we  shall  see  hereafter,  he 
put  in  practice  the  poet's  excellent  advice,  and 
profited  thereby :  — 

"  Here  's  a  lesson  all  should  heed,  — 

Try,  try,  try  again. 
If  at  first  you  don't  succeed, 

Try,  try,  try  again. 
Let  your  courage  well  appear; 
If  you  only  persevere, 
You  will  conquer,  never  fear; 

Try,  try,  try  again. 

"  Twice  or  thrice  though  you  should  fail, 

Try,  try,  try  again. 
If  at  last  you  would  prevail, 

Try,  try,  try  again. 
When  you  strive,  it 's  no  disgrace 
Though  you  fail  to  win  the  race; 
Bravely,  then,  in  such  a  case, 

Try,  try,  try  again. 

"  Let  the  thing  be  e'er  so  hard, 

Try,  try,  try  again. 
Time  will  bring  the  sure  reward; 

Try,  try,  try  again. 
That  which  other  folks  can  do, 
Why,  with  patience,  may  not  you? 
All  that 's  been  done,  you  may  do, 

If  you  will  but  try  again !  " 

"  Bang !  "  went  the  rifle,  and  his  mother  hastened 
to  the  door  to  learn  the  result. 

"  You  've  killed  her,  Abe,  sure,"  she  exclaimed. 
"  Good,"    shouted  the   boy,  clapping  his  hands, 


108  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

and  running  for  the  game.  "Yes,  I've  killed 
her,  —  she  's  dead  as  a  stone,"  he  added,  as  he  took 
up  the  dead  turkey  in  triumph. 

"  Your  first  shot,  Abe,  (meaning  his  first  shot  at 
game,)  and  a  good  one  it  was." 

"  It 's  a  monster,  mother  ;  see  her  ;  it 's  as  much 
as  I  can  lift "  ;  and  he  raised  it  up  to  show  how 
large  it  was.  It  proved  to  be  one  of  the  largest  of 
wild  turkeys. 

"What's  the  firm'  for?"  inquired  his  father, 
who  heard  the  report  of  the  rifle,  and  left  his  work 
to  ascertain. 

"  I  've  killed  a  turkey,"  replied  Abraham.  "  See 
here,"  and  he  exhibited  his  prize  with  marked  sat 
isfaction. 

"  Well  done,  Abe !  That  was  a  capital  shot. 
You  '11  make  a  good  one  with  the  rifle  if  you 
keep  on." 

"  I  hardly  thought  that  he  would  kill  her,"  said 
his  mother,  "  but  he  wanted  to  try,  and  I  knew  he 
must  begin  some  time." 

"  Practice  will  make  perfect,  Abe,"  said  his 
father;  "it's  only  the  best  marksmen  that  can 
make  a  good  shot  every  time.  Perhaps  you  '11 
shoot  a  dozen  times,  and  not  kill  another." 

Abraham  made  no  reply,  but  he  looked  as  if  he 
did  not  believe  the  last  remark.  The  turn  of  his 
eye  seemed  to  say,  "  Wait  and  see." 

As   Dioneer   families   were    so    dependent    upon 


THE   LUCKY   SHOT.  109 

game,  the  fathers  and  sons  became  good  marksmen, 
and  even  the  females  were  often  expert  in  the  use 
of  the  rifle.  We  have  seen  that  Mrs.  Lincoln  loaded 
the  rifle  for  Abraham,  —  an  act  that  would  almost 
terrify  ladies  of  the  present  day.  But  she,  in  com 
mon  with  her  sex  of  that  period,  was  accustomed 
to  do  such  things,  so  that  she  was  not  at  all  ner 
vous  about  the  matter.  She  could  fire  if  it  was 
necessary. 

Marvellous  stories  are  told  about  the  skill  of 
the  pioneers  in  the  use  of  the  rifle,  and  good 
authority  substantiates  their  truthfulness.  One 
writer  says :  "  Several  individuals  who  conceive 
themselves  adepts  in  the  management  of  the  rifle, 
are  often  seen  to  meet  for  the  purpose  of  glisplaying 
their  skill ;  and  they  put  up  a  target,  in  the  centre 
of  which  a  common-sized  nail  is  hammered  for 
about  two  thirds  its  length.  The  marksmen  make 
choice  of  what  they  consider  a  proper  distance,  and 
which  may  be  forty  paces.  Each  man  clears  the 
interior  of  his  tube,  places  a  ball  in  the  palm  of  his 
hand,  and  pours  as  much  powder  from  his  horn  as 
will  cover  it.  This  quantity  is  supposed  to  be 
sufficient  for  any  distance  short  of  a  hundred  yards. 
A  shot  that  comes  very  close  to  the  nail  is  consid 
ered  that  of  an  indifferent  marksman ;  the  bending 
of  the  nail  is  of  course  somewhat  better ;  but 
nothing  less  than  hitting  it  right  on  the  head  is 
satisfactory.  One  out  of  the  three  shots  generally 


110  THE   riOXEER    BOY. 

hits  the  nail ;  and  should  the  shooters  amount  to 
half  a  dozen,  two  nails  are  frequently  needed  be 
fore  each  can  have  a  shot." 

The  same  writer  continues:  "The  snuffing  of  a 
candle  with  a  ball  I  first  had  an  opportunity  of 
seeing  near  the 'banks  of  Green  River,  not  far  from 
a  large  pigeon-roost,  to  which  I  had  previously 
made  a  visit.  I  had  heard  many  reports  of  guns 
during  the  early  part  of  a  dark  night,  and  knowing 
them  to  be  those  of  rifles,  I  went  forward  toward 
the  spot  to  ascertain  the  cause.  On  reaching  the 
place,  I  was  welcomed  by  a  dozen  tall,  stout  men, 
who  told  me  they  were  exercising  for  the  purpose 
of  enabling  them  to  shoot  under  night,  at  the  re 
flected  light  from  the  eyes  of  a  deer  or  wolf  by 
torchlight.  A  fire  was  blazing  near,  the  smoke  of 
which  rose  curling  among  the  thick  foliage  of  the 
trees.  At  a  distance  which  rendered  it  scarcely 
distinguishable,  stood  a  burning  candle,  but  which, 
in  reality,  was  only  fifty  yards  from  the  spot  on 
which  we  all  stood.  One  man  was  within  a  few 
yards  of  it  to  watch  the  effect  of  the  shots,  as  well 
as  to  light  the  candle,  should  it  chance  to  go  out, 
or  to  replace  it,  should  the  shot  cut  it  across.  Each 
marksman  shot  in  his  turn.  Some  never  hit  either 
the  snuff  or  the  candle,  and  were  congratulated 
with  a  loud  laugh,  while  others  actually  snuffed 
the  candle  without  putting  it  out,  and  were  recom 
pensed  for  their  dexterity  by  numerous  hurrahs. 


THE  LUCKY   SHOT.    '  111 

One  of  them,  who  was  particularly  expert,  was  very 
fortunate,  and  snuffed  the  candle  three  times  out 
of  seven,  while  all  the  other  shots  either  put  out 
the  candle  or  cut  it  immediately  under  the  light." 

Such  was  the  skill  of  riflemen  at  that  day. 
Hence  it  was  of  considerable  importance  that  boys 
should  learn  how  to  fire  accurately.  Not  as  a  pas 
time  was  it  valued,  but  as  a  means  of  gaining  sub 
sistence.  In  addition  to  procuring  game  for  the 
table,  furs  were  in  great  demand,  and  there  were 
many  animals  valuable  on  this  account.  It  was 
necessary,  therefore,  that  Abraham  should  learn 
the  art. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  culture  he  received 
by  the  use  of  the  rifle  had  its  influence  in  develop 
ing  his  physical  energies,  as  he  was  ever  distin 
guished  for  his  strength  and  powers  of  endurance  ; 
and  that  it  indirectly  served  to  inspire  his  heart 
with  courage,  promptness,  and  decision,  for  which 
his  whole  life  has  been  eminent. 

Time  nor  space  will  permit  me  to  recount  the 
experience  of  Abraham  the  next  twelvemonth. 
We  must  pass  over  the  remainder  of  his  first  year 
iu  Indiana,  to  a  sad  part  of  his  experience,  related 
in  the  following  chapter. 


X. 

SOBROW. 

"  A  BE !  Abe ! "  shouted  his  father,  about  three 
JEjL  o'clock  in  the  morning;  "you  must  get 
up  and  run  over  to  Bruner's ;  your  mother  is  very 
sick,  and  she  must  have  some  help  right  off." 

At  this  time  they  had  been  in  Indiana  about  a 
year  and  a  half,  and  several  new  pioneer  families 
had  settled  around  them  within  a  few  miles. 

"  I  '11  be  down  right  off,"  answered  Abraham, 
springing  from  his  humble  bed,  much  startled  by  the 
announcement  of  his  mother's  illness ;  and  he  soon 
descended  the  ladder. 

"  Go  as  quick  as  you  can,  Abe,  and  tell  Mother 
Bruner  that  we  'd  like  to  have  her  come  over  as 
soon  as  possible." 

u  What 's  the  matter  with  her  ?  "  inquired  Abra 
ham,  now  very  much  concerned  for  his  mother,  to 
whom  he  was  most  ardently  attached. 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  you  must  go  quick  " ;  and 
Abraham  disappeared  by  the  time  the  last  words 
were  fairly  out  of  his  father's  mouth. 

There  was  no  physician  within  forty  miles,  and 


SORROW.  113 

the  pioneor  families  were  obliged  to  depend  upon 
their  own  skill  in  cases  of  sickness.  A  strong  feel 
ing  of  kindness  and  sympathy  united  them  at  such 
times,  -and  the  feminine  neighbors  tendered  their 
best  nursing  abilities  without  money  and  without 
price.  Nor  were  they  altogether  unsuccessful  in 
their  treatment  of  the  sick.  Some  of 'them  exhibit 
ed  much  medical  skill  in  managing  diseases,  having 
been  thrown  upon  their  own  resources  for  a  long 
period,  reflecting  and  studying  for  themselves.  It 
was  out  of  the  question  to  have  a  doctor,  and  they 
were  compelled  in  consequence  to  do  the  best  thing 
they  could  for  themselves. 

Abraham  was  not  long  in  reaching  Mr.  Bruner's 
cabin.  He  never  ran  a  mile  quicker  than  he  did 
then.  He  was  really  alarmed  for  his  mother. 

"Mother  is  very  sick,"  he  shouted,  as  he  aroused 
the  family  by  his  sudden  appearance  ;  "  and  father 
wants  you  to  come  over  there  as  soon  as  you  can," 
addressing  himself  to  Mrs.  Bruner. 

"  What 's  the  matter  with  her  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  and  father  don't,  only  he  said  she 
was  very  sick." 

"  When  was  she  taken  ?  " 

"  To-night ;  she  was  well  enough  yesterday." 

"  Well,  you  run  back,  and  tell  your  father  that 
I  '11  be  right  over." 

"  And  tell  him  that  I  '11  come  over  too,  after 
breakfast;  to  see  if  there  's  anything  I  can  do,"  said 
Mr.  Bruner. 


114  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

Abraham  hurried  home,  and  Mrs.  Bruner  pro 
ceeded  to  get  some  herbs  to  take  with  her.  She 
was  one  of  those  motherly  nurses,  who  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  medicinal  qualities  of  herbs, 
and  in  that  respect  was  quite  equal  to  almost  any 
modern  professor  in  a  catnip  college.  With  a  re 
spectable  bundle  of  these  indispensable  articles,  she 
started  for  Mr.  Lincoln's,  her  husband  saying  as 
she  went,  "  I  '11  be  over  in  the  mornin'." 

In  the  mean  time  Mrs.  Lincoln  continued  very 
sick,  and  rather  grew  worse.  Her  symptoms  were 
really  alarming,  and  Abraham  was  much  agitated 
with  fear.  It  was  a  new  experience  of  his  back 
woods  life. 

"  Glad  to  see  you/'  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  as  Mrs. 
Bruner  entered ;  "  my  wife  is  very  sick,  and  I 
hardly  know  what  to  do." 

"  I  'm  sorry  that  she  is  so  bad  ;  where  is  your  dis 
tress  ?  "  replied  Mrs.  Bruner,  addressing  her  inquiry 
to  the  sick  woman,  who  was  groaning  with  every 
breath. 

"  Here,"  she  answered,  laying  her  hand  upon  her 
breast,  and  then  adding,  "All  over,"  indicating  that 
her  whole  body  was  suffering. 

"  We  '11  do  the  best  we  can  for  you,"  said  kind 
Mrs.  Bruner ;  "  and  I  have  brought  over  some  herbs 
that  I  '11  have  steeping  at  once.  We  shall  want  a 
good  fire,  Mr.  Lincoln." 

"Anything  that 's  necessary,"  he  replied.    "  Let 's 


SORROW.  115 

be  in  a  hurry,  too  " ;  and  he  hastened  to  renew  the 
fire,  while  Abraham  sat  upon  a  stool  near  the  foot 
of  the  bed,  looking  the  very  picture  of  despair.  He 
was  glad  to  see  Mrs.  Bruner  there  to  render  timely 
assistance ;  but  the  evident  alarm  of  his  father,  and 
the  apparent  anxiety  of  the  good  neighbor  who  had 
responded  so  promptly  to  the  call,  served  to  make 
him  ask  in  silence,  "  Will  she  die  ?  "  The  thought 
of  losing  his  best  earthly  friend  was  appalling  to 
him.  His  young  heart  shuddered  at  the  prospect. 

The  application  of  various  remedies  had  the  de 
sired  effect,  and  the  patient  was  partially  relieved  in 
the  course  of  three  or  four  hours.  Still  she  was 
very  sick,  and  Mrs.  Bruner  was  well  aware  of  the 
fact.  The  partial  relief  of  her  pain,  however,  caused 
Abraham's  face  to  light  up  with  joy,  and  he  rose 
from  his  seat  and  drew  nearer  to  his  mother,  who 
looked  up  and  said:  "  Come  here,  Abe." 

He  drew  close  to  her  side,  rejoicing  in  her  relief, 
when  she  took  his  hand,  and  continued :  "  I  'm  very 
sick ;  and  if  God  shall  call  me  to  him,  remember  all 
my  lessons." 

A  shadow  chased  the  light  of  joy  from  his  beam 
ing  face.  Could  it  be  that  she  was  expecting  to 
die  ?  Her  words  excited  his  fears  again. 

"God  's  will  be  done,"  she  added,  after  an  inter 
val.  "  I  am  ready." 

Abraham  burst  into  tears  at  this,  and  Mrs.  Bru 
ner  replied  :  "  We  know  that.  If  you  aiu't  ready, 
then  I  don't  know  who  is." 


116  THE   PIONEER  BOY. 

"  It 's  a  great  thing  to  be  ready,"  continued  Mrs. 
Lincoln. 

"  Surely  it  is  a  great  thing ;  but  I  hope  your  time 
ain't  come  yet." 

"  It 's  come,  unless  I  get  relief  soon." 

Abraham  listened  to  this  conversation,  and  his 
heart  was  grieved  wellnigh  to  bursting.  There 
could  be  no  mistake  now  that  his  mother  was 
seriously  ill.  The  fact  could  not  be  disguised. 

"  I  would  n't  feel  so,  Abe,"  said  Mrs.  Bruner  ;  "  I 
hope  your  mother  will  get  well." 

"  Yes,  my  dear  boy,  God  knows  what  is  best,  and 
he  can  take  better  care  of  you  than  I  can,  if  I  should 
live." 

Abraham  scarcely  believed  the  last  remark  ;  for  he 
could  not  see  how  he  could  live  without  his  mother. 
Still  he  made  no  reply,  as  the  deep  sorrow  of  his 
heart  could  not  find  words  for  utterance.  He  was 
entering  a  new  school  now,  and  taking  his  first 
lesson. 

"  I  think  you  must  go  over  to  Mrs.  Granger's, 
Abe,  and  tell  her  how  sick  your  mother  is.  Per 
haps  they  can  come  over  and  do  somethin'  for  her.' 

"  Shall  I  go  now  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  would  go  right  away.  It  may  be  that 
We  shall  want  some  on  'em  soon." 

"  Do  you  think  mother  will  die  ? "  the  boy  in 
quired,  anxiously.  They  had  passed  outside  the 
cabin  now. 


SORROW.  117 

"  She  9s  very  sick,"  replied  his  father,  "  but  I 
hope  for  the  best.  She 's  more  comfortable  now,  if 
it  only  lasts." 

Abraham's  chin  quivered  again  with  emotion,  and 
he  started  off  upon  the  run  for  Mr.  Granger's.  Just 
then  Mr.  Bruner  came  to  see  if  there  was  anything 
that  he  could  do  for  the  family  in  their  time  of  trial. 
His  warm  heart  prompted  him  to  deeds  of  kindness, 
and  he  was  truly  a  friend  in  adversity. 

Mrs.  Lincoln  continued  very  sick,  though  at  the 
end  of  a  week  she  was  thought  to  have  improved 
a  little.  By  this  time  tidings  of  her  sickness  had 
reached  all  her  neighbors  within  ten  or  twelve  miles, 
and  they  had  manifested  great  interest  in  her  recov 
ery,  and  tendered  their  best  efforts  to  give  her  relief. 
But  after  the  expiration  of  a  week,  she  grew  worse, 
and  the  slight  hope  that  was  entertained  of  her 
restoration  almost  died  away. 

"  My  days  are  numbered,"  said  Mrs.  Lincoln,  in 
a  feeble  voice.  "  I  feel  that  I  'm  sinking." 

"  I  'm  afraid  you  are,"  replied  her  husband. 
"  You  can't  go  through  much  more." 

"  I  know  that  God  is  calling  me,  and  my  house  is 
set  in  order.  You  must  look  above  for  strength." 

"  The  only  place  to  look,"  answered  her  husband, 
witli  much  emotion. 

"  O  yes !  and  when  I  am  gone,  you  '11  -have  rea 
son  to  look  there  more  than  ever,  for  the  children's 
sake.  May  the  Lord  keep  them  !  " 


118  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

Just  then  Abraham  came  in,  and  his  mother  con 
tinued :  "You  must  not  forget  my  counsels,  Abo, 
if  God  shall  take  me  to  himself.  Don't  neglect 
the  Bible,  and  serve  and  love  God  with  all  your 
heart." 

Abraham  replied  only  by  tears  and  so/bs.  He 
expected  soon  to  be  motherless. 

"  You  must  make  the  most  of  your  time  and 
talents,"  she  added,  "  and  be  prepared  to  follow 
me.  And  you  must  be  willing  that  I  should  die, 
if  God  calls  me." 

"  I  can't  be  willing,"  said  Abraham ;  and  another 
burst  of  grief  shook  his  frame. 

u  If  it 's  God's  will,  you  can.  It 's  hard  for  me  to 
leave  you;  but  I  am  reconciled  to  it:  I  know  no  will 
but  his "  ;  and  she  spoke  in  a  feeble  tone,  as  if 
strength  was  fast  failing  her  ;  and  then  a  brief,  ear 
nest  prayer  she  lifted  to  Heaven  for  her  dear  boy, 
as  he  stood  by  her,  overwhelmed  with  sorrow. 

Exhausted  by  these  efforts,  she  sank  into  a  deep 
sleep  for  a  short  time,  from  which  it  would  not 
have  been  strange  if  she  had  never  wakened.  But 
the  end  was  not  yet. 

It  was  two  or  three  weeks  from  this  time  before 
she  expired.  Some  days  she  would  revive  so  as  to 
awaken  a  glimmer  of  hope  in  the  hearts  of  loving 
friends,  and  then  she  would  fail  again.  And  thus 
she  lingered  until  three  days  before  she  passed  away, 
when  a  change  came  over  her,  and  she  gradually 
sank  in  death.  Her  end  was  peace. 


SORROW.  119 

Her  dying  counsels  to  Abraham,  like  those  cited, 
were  often  reiterated  in  his  ear,  showing  that  her 
intense  anxiety  for  her  boy  continued  to  the  latest 
moment.  And  these  interviews  served  to  deepen 
the  impression  of  all  the  maternal  lessons  to  which 
he  had  ever  listened.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this 
great  affliction  garnered  the  choicest  instructions 
of  his  pious  mother  in  his  soul,  and  made  them 
more  powerful  for  good  thereafter. 

"  I  've  no  mother  now,"  said  Abraham  to  a  neigh 
bor,  giving  way  to  his  grief  in  repeated  sobs. 

"  And  I  am  sorrjulbr  you,"  said  the  neighbor ; 
"  no  boy  ever  nad  a  better  mother  to  lose." 

"  I  know  that,"  he  replied  ;  "  and  that  makes  it 
so  hard  to  —  "  Here  he  broke  down  completely, 
and  could  not  finish  the  sentence. 

"  But  you  '11  find  friends  all  about  you,"  added 
the  man,  by  way  of  convincing  him  that  he  would 
not  be  alone. 

"  Not  like  her,"  was  the  boy's  quick  reply,  in  a 
tone  so  mournful  that  it  sent  a  chill  to  the  neigh 
bor's  heart. 

"  No,  not  like  her,  't  is  true,"  repeated  the  neigh 
bor,  stroking  Abraham's  fine  head  affectionately ; 
"  but  then  —  "  Here  he  was  too  much  affected  by 
the  boy's  unfeigned  grief  to  be  able  to  proceed. 
His  utterance  was  choked.  He  knew  that  the  lad 
had  experienced  an  irreparable  loss,  and  he  felt  for 
him  deeply. 


120  THE    PIONEER    BOY. 

Preparations  were  made  for  the  funeral,  such  as 
the  circumstances  would  allow.  With  no  minister, 
no  sexton,  no  tolling  bell,  no  bier,  no  graveyard,  it 
is  not  necessary  to  make  much  preparation  for  a 
burial.  A  neighbor  dug  a  grave  on  a  piece  of 
ground  selected  by  Mr.  Lincoln.  It  was  situated  on 
an  eminence  in  the  woods,  about  one  fourth  of  a 
mile  from  the  cabin  ;  and  it  was  really  a  pleasant 
spot  for  the  repose  of  the  dead.  The  death  of  Mrs. 
Lincoln  was  the  first  one  that  had  occurred  among 
the  families  of  that  settlement,  and  of  course  no 
other  body  had  been  laid  in  that  consecrated 
ground.  The  day  that  God  caused  a  spot  to  be 
selected  for  the  dead  was  an  era  in  the  history  of 
that  group  of  households. 

The  neighbor  who  dug  the  grave  constructed  a 
rough  box  to  answer  for  a  coffin.  The  day  and 
hour  for  the  funeral  was  appointed,  and  the  neigh 
bors  within  ten  or  twelve  miles  were  notified  of  the 
same.  One  pious  friend  was  invited  to. read  the 
Scriptures,  and  another  to  make  a  prayer.  And  so, 
when  the  solemn  hour  of  burial  arrived,  the  pioneer 
families  assembled  at  the  cabin,  to  pay  their  last  sad 
tribute  of  respect  to  all  that  was  left  of  one  they 
loved.  It  was  a  solemn  hour.  A  funeral  in  such 
circumstances,  upon  the  outskirts  of  civilization,  is 
always  doubly  solemn.  The  poverty  and  hardships 
of  pioneer  life  alone  are  sufficient  to  invest  it  with 
the  most  melancholy  interest.  But  in  this  case 


SORROW.  121 

there  was  added  the  excellence  of  the  deceased,  who 
had  endeared  herself  to  every  acquaintance,  and  the 
crushing  sorrow  of  the  family.  Most  of  all,  each 
one  felt  for  the  wellnigh  heart-broken  Abraham, 
who  loved  his  mother  with  a  love  that  knows  no 
bound. 

The  reader  can  scarcely  imagine  the  sense  of  des 
olation  that  pervaded  Abraham's  heart,  as  he  re 
turned  motherless  to  his  cabin  home.  It  is  dreary 
enough  to  abide  in  a  wilderness  where  privations 
come  without  stint,  but  when  the  dearest  object  of 
affection  is  removed  by  death,  and  that  humble  home 
is  robbed  of  its  charm,  no  words  can  portray  the 
desolation  that  reigns. 

"Not  often  that  such  a  woman  is  laid  in  the 
ground,"  said  Bruner. 

"  Not  often,"  was  the  reply  of  his  good  wife ; 
"  and  I  pity  that  boy  so  that  I  know  not  what  to 
do." 

"  He  certainly  deserves  our  pity :  such  boys  are 
not  often  found." 

"  No  ;  and  with  such  a  mother  to  teach  him,  there 
is  no  tellin'  what  he  might  make." 

"  Well,  his  mother  has  given  him  good  lessons 
enough,  if  he  remembers  them,  to  make  a  good  man 
of  him." 

"  But  boys  soon  forget  the  best  lessons,  you  know  ; 
though  Abe  is  more  thoughtful  than  most  boys  are, 
I  think.  He  's  allers  willin'  to  leave  his  plays  to 


122  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

serve  his  father,  though  I  don't  s'pose  he  's  per 
fect." 

"  Of  course  not ;  his  mother  had  to  correct  him 
sometimes,  and  whip  him  too,  so  she  told  me ;  but 
lie's  an  uncommon  boy,  he  takes  to  books  so;  I 
never  saw  his  like.  There  's  nobody  in  Spencer 
County  that  can  read  better  than  he  can  now,  young 
as  he  is." 

"  Poor  boy  !  I  'm  sorry  for  him.  He  don't  know 
what  a  loss  he's  met  with." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  answered  Mrs.  Bru- 
ner.  "  A  boy  that  takes  on  as  lie  does  knows  the 
wuth  of  a  mother,"  and  a  sad,  pitiful  expression  sat 
on  her  countenance  as  she  spoke.  Her  mother's 
heart  was  touched  by  the  thought  of  the  little  fel 
low's  affliction. 

"  Would  that  it  might  have  been  different,"  added 
Mr.  Bnmer,  sorrowfully.  He  was  a  sympathetic 
man,  and  his  whole  heart  was  moved  by  the  grief 
of  this  stricken  family. 

Nor  was  this  feeling  confined  to  the  Bruner  fam 
ily.  All  the  families  within  fifteen  or  twenty  miles 
around  took  a  similar  view  of  the  bereavement. 
The  death  cast  a  gloom  upon  the  entire  population 
of  that  region. 

That  little  mound  upon  the  eminence  in  the  woods 
was  a  perpetual  admonisher  to  Abraham.  It  was  a 
sacred,  solemn  spot  to  him.  Often  as  he  passed  it, 
or  went  thither  on  purpose  to  gaze  upon  it,  —  the 


SORROW.  123 

place  where  reposed  the  dust  of  his  sainted  mother, 
—  his  heart  yielded  itself  to  sorrow.  The  absence 
of  his  maternal  guide  created  a  void  in  his  soul,  and 
the  sight  of  this  lone,  solitary  grave  was  well  suited 
to  perpetuate  the  sad  experience.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  it  exerted  a  salutary  influence  upon  his  heart, 
and  served  to  deepen  that  serious  view  of  life  and 
its  duties  which  characterized  his  manhood.  It  filled 
many  hours  of  liis  child-years  with  grief,  but  then 
there  is  a  discipline  in  this  even  for  the  spirit  of  a 
ooy.  That  mute,  lonely  grave  in  the  woods  was  one 
of  his  most  faithful  teachers. 


XI. 

GOING  UP  HIGHEE. 

IT  was  a  great  change  that  death  wrought  in  the 
Lincoln  family,  and  no  one  felt  it  more  than 
Abraham.  For  some  weeks  his  mind  was  absorbed 
in  his  loss.  Not  even  his  accustomed  habits  of 
study  could  avail  to  divert  his  thoughts  from  his 
great  sorrow.  His  father  took  notice  of  it,  and 
longed  to  afford  him  relief.  At  length  he  met  with 
a  copy  of  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  at  the  house  of 
an  acquaintance,  nearly  twenty  miles  distant ;  and 
thinking  that  it  would  be  a  rich  treat  to  Abraham, 
and  serve  to  cheer  his  lonely  hours,  lie  obtained  the 
loan  of  the  book.  Carefully  wrapping  the  volume, 
he  conveyed  it  home. 

"  Look  here,  Abe,  I  've  found  somethin'  for  you  "  ; 
and  he  removed  the  covering,  and  exhibited  the 
book. 

"  Found  it !  "  exclaimed  Abraham,  supposing  that 
his  father  meant  that  he  picked  up  the  book  in  the 
woods  or  fields. 

"  No,  no ;  you  don't  understand  me.  I  meant 
.that  I  come  across  it  at  Pierson's  house,  and  I  bor 
rowed  it  for  you." 


GOING  UP   HIGHER.  125 

"  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  said  Abraham,  taking  the 
book  and  reading  the  title ;  "  that  will  bo  good,  I 
should  think."  Ho  knew  nothing  about  the  book. 
Hitherto  his  studies  had  been  confined  to  Dilworth's 
Spelling-Book,  the  Catechism,  and  the  Bible.  Large 
portions  of  these  volumes  he  had  committed  to 
memory  by  frequent  reading. 

"  I  shall  want  to  hear  it,"  said  his  father.  I 
heard  about  that  book  many  years  ago,  but  I  never 
heard  it  read." 

"  What  is  it  about  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  You  '11  find  that  out  by  readin'  it,"  answered 
his  father. 

"  And  I  won't  be  long  about  it  neither,"  contin 
ued  Abraham.  "  I  know  I  shall  like  it." 

"  I  know  you  will,  too." 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  know,  if  you  never  heard 
it  read." 

"  On  account  of  what  I  've  heard  about  it." 

And  it  turned  out  to  be  so.  Abraham  sat  down 
to  read  this  volume  very  much  as  some  other  boys 
would  sit  down  to  a  good  dinner.  He  found  it  bet 
ter  even  than  he  expected.  It  was  the  first  volume 
that  he  was  provided  with  after  the  spelling-book, 
Catechism,  and  Bible,  and  a  better  one  could  not 
have  been  found.  He  read  it  through  once,  and 
was  half-way  through  it  a  second  time,  when  he 
received  a  present  of  another  volume,  in  which  he 
became  deeply  interested.  It  was  jEsop's  Fables, 


126  THE  PIONEER  BOY.  - 

presented  to  him  by  Mrs.  Bruner,  partly  on  account 
of  his  love  of  books,  and  partly  because  she  thought 
it  would  serve  to  occupy  his  mind  and  lighten  his 
sorrow. 

"  You  fare  pretty  well  for  a  pioneer  boy,  Abe," 
said  his  father,  "  as  to  books.  I  wish  you  could 
learn  to  write." 

"  Time  enough  for  that,"  answered  the  boy.  "I 
want  to  finish  these  books  first."  He  was  so  ab 
sorbed  in  the  volumes  that  he  cared  little  or  noth-' 
ing  for  anything  else  for  the  time  being.  "  I  shall 
never  be  tired  of  reading  these." 

"  I  hope  you  won't,  nor  forget  their  good  lessons. 
You  ought  to  be  very  thankful  to  "Mother  Bruner." 

"  I  am,  and  I  mean  to  do  something  to  pay  her 
for  it,  if  I  can." 

"  What  can  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  guess  there  '11  be  something 
I  can  do  for  her."  And  the  more  he  read  ^Esop's 
Fables,  the  more  determined  he  was  to  show  his 
gratitude  to  her,  by  some  act  of  friendly  feeling. 
He  read  them  over  and  over  until  he  could  repeat 
almost  the  entire  contents  of  the  volume.  He  was 
interested  in  the  moral  lesson  that  each  fable 
taught,  and  derived  therefrom  many  valuable  hints 
that  he  carried  with  him  through  life.  On  the 
whole,  he  spent  more  time  over  ^Esop's  Fables  than 
he  did  over  Pilgrim's  Progress,  although  he  was 
really  charmed  by  the  latter.  But  there  was  a  prac- 


GOING   UP   HIGHER.  127 

tical  turn  to  the  Fables  that  interested  him,  and  he 
could  easily  recollect  the  stories.  Perhaps  this 
early  familiarity  with  this  book  laid  the  foundation 
for  that  facility  at  apt  story-telling  that  has  distin 
guished  him  from  his  youth.  It  is  easy  to  see  how 
such  a  volume  might  beget  and  foster  a  taste  in  this 
direction.  Single  volumes  have  moulded  the  read 
er's  character  and  decided  his  destiny  more  than 
once,  and  that,  too,  when  far  less  absorbing  interest 
is  manifested  in  the  book.  It  is  probable,  then,  that 
^Esop's  Fables  exerted  a  decided  influence  upon 
Abraham's  character  and  life.  The  fact  that  he 
read  the  volume  so  much  as  to  commit  the  larger 
part  of  it  to  memory  adds  force  to  this  opinion. 

It  was  while  Abraham  was  engaged  with  these 
two  books  that  Dennis  Hanks,  who  lived  in  the 
vicinity,  —  a  young  man  nearly  twenty  years  oj 
age,  —  called  to  see  them. 

"  What  books  have  you  there,  Abe  ?  "  he  inquired. 

Abraham  informed  him,  and  added  something  by 
way  of  expressing  his  interest  in  them. 

"  You  like  most  any  book,"  said  Hanks,  "  ac 
cording  to  what  I  hear  and  see." 

"  I  like  good  ones  like  these,"  said  Abraham. 

"  I  have  been  tellin'  him  that  I  want  he  should 
learn  to  write,"  interrupted  his  father.  "  I  can't 
write  myself,  and  I  feel  the  need  of  it  very  often." 

"  I  should  think  you  would,"  added  Hanks.  "  I 
hardly  know  what  I  should  do  if  I  couldn't  write." 


128  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  Then  you  can  write  ?  "  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  inquir 
ingly. 

"  So  as  to  read  it  myself ;  I  can't  write  very  well, 
though." 

"  Well,  then,  what 's  the  reason  you  can't  learn 
Abe  to  write  ?  " 

"  I  can,  if  he  wants  to  do  it." 

"  I  want  to  do  it,"  answered  Abraham,  without 
waiting  for  his  father  to  respond. 

"And* he  can  get  along  with  it  himself,  if  he 
knows  how  to  make  the  letters,"  said  his  father. 
"  That 's  the  way  he  's  done  with  readin'." 

"  Well,  Abe,  when  will  you  begin  ?  "  inquired 
Hanks. 

"  Right  off,  —  to-day,  if  you  are  ready,"  he  re 
plied. 

"  I  can't  attend  to  it  to-day ;  but  I  '11  undertake 
it  next  week,  if  you  say  so." 

"That'll  do,"  answered  Mr.  Lincoln;  "and  I 
shall  expect  that  he  '11  make  a  writer  with  such  a 
master " ;  and  the  last  words  were  uttered  in  a 
strain  of  merriment. 

"  Of  course  he  will,"  retorted  Hanks.  "  If  he 
does  as  well  as  he  does  in  other  things,  he  '11  soon 
learn  all  I  know  about  writing." 

"  And  what  a  good  thing  it  will  be  to  me  !  "  said 
Mr.  Lincoln.  "  I  want  to  write  a  letter  now,  and 
should  if  I  knew  how  to  do  it.  But  Abe  can  write 
for  me  when  he  learns  how,  and  that  will  do  as 
well,  won't  it,  Abe  ?  " 


GOING  UP   HIGHER.  129 

"  I  shall  like  it,"  he  replied,  "  whether  it  will  do 
as  well  or  not." 

"  Better  wait,  and  see  whether  you  can  learn  any 
thing  of  me,  before  you  reckon  on  writing  letters," 
said  Hanks,  who  doubted  whether  much  would  re 
sult  from  the  attempt. 

"  Time  will  show,"  added  Mr.  Lincoln ;  and 
it  did. 

The  time  for  Abraham  to  begin  to  take  lessons 
in  penmanship  arrived,  and  he  commenced  with  the 
most  enthusiastic  ardor.  He  could  read  well,  and 
now  he  wanted  to  write  as  well.  Nor  had  he  any 
doubt  that  he  was  going  to  accomplish  the  object  in 
view.  He  was  confident  that,  if  he  could  learn  to 
form  letters,  he  could  make  progress  in  the  art. 

Hanks  was  nearly  as  much  interested  in  .the 
matter  as  Abraham  himself.  He  looked  upon  the 
boy  almost  as  a  prodigy,  and  he  was  curious  to  see 
whether  he  would  do  as  well  at  writing  as  he  did 
with  everything  else  that  he  undertook.  He  was 
glad  to  have  a  hand  in  advancing  one  who  exhibited 
so  great  desire  and  taste  for  knowledge.  He  wanted 
to  see  what  he  would  make.  He  expected  that  he 
would  make  an  uncommon  man,  and  he  was  re 
joiced  to  add  his  mite  towards  accomplishing  that 
object.  It  was  true  that  Hanks  was  a  poor  writer  ; 
but  he  knew  how  to  form  letters,  and  that  much 
information  he  could  impart  to  another. 

The  lessons  commenced.    Abraham  was  awkward 

6*  I 


130  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

enough  in  the  use  of  the  pen  at  first ;  but  he  soon 
overcame  this  difficulty,  and  exhibited  unusual  judg- 
nient  for  a  boy  in  the  formation  of  letters.  When 
he  had  learned  how  to  form  a  letter,  he  practised 
upon  it  in  various  ways.  With  a  bit  of  chalk  he 
would  cut  them  on  pieces  of  slabs  and  on  the 
trunks  of  trees  ,  and  more  than  once  the  tops  of 
the  stools  in  the  cabin  and  the  puncheon-table 
served  him  in  lieu  of  a  writing-book.  His  father 
was  too  poor  to  provide  him  with  all  the  paper 
necessary  for  his  scribbling,  and  so  he  resorted  to 
these  various  expedients.  The  end  of  a  charred 
stick  was  used  as  a  pencil  sometimes  to  accomplish 
his  object,  and  it  enabled  him  to  cut  letters  witli 
considerable  facility.  He  was  bent  upon  mastering 
the  art  of  writing,  and  no  difficulties  could  discour 
age  him.  He  was  determined  to  succeed  ;  and  boys 
of  so  much  resolution  do  succeed  generally  in  their 
undertakings. 

With  his  two  new  books,  and  learning  to  write, 
his  thoughts  were  too  much  absorbed  in  the  matter 
of  improvement  to  pursue  his  accustomed  manual 
labors  with  interest.  His  father  observed  with  what 
devotion  he  was  attending  to  his  studies,  and  he 
favored  him  somewhat.  He  was  happy  to  witness 
his  rapid  improvement.  And  yet  lie  thought  the 
boy  was  carrying  the  matter  too  far,  and  so  he 
called  him  to  an  account. 

"  Come,  Abe,  you  must  n't  neglect  your  work. 


GOING   UP    HIGHER.  131 

If  wo  ain't  pretty  busy  pulling  blades,  we  shall  get 
all  behindhand  this  fall." 

"  Let  me  finish  this  first,"  answered  the  boy  ;  "  I 
don't  want  to  go  now." 

"I  see  you  don't,  and  I  am  feared  you  're  gettin' 
lazy.  All  study  and  no  work  is  'most  as  bad  as  all 
work  and  no  study." 

"  In  a  minute  I  '11  go."  How  many  boys  have 
said  the  same  over  and  over !  Abraham  was  not 
accustomed  to  say  this  ;  it  was  something  new  in 
his  case.  He  was  usually  prompt  to  obey,  even  to 
leaving  his  plays.  But  his  absorbing  interest  in  his 
books  and  writing  caused  him  to  hesitate  now. 

"  It  must  be  a  short  minute,"  answered  his  father, 
rather  pettishly.  u  We  have  more  to  do  every  day 
now  than  we  ought  to  do  in  two." 

"  I  '11  work  hard  enough  to  make  it  up  when  I 
get  at  it,"  said  Abraham,  still  delaying. 

u  I  don't  know  about  that,"  responded  Mr.  Lin 
coln  ;  "  I  'm  feared  your  thoughts  will  be  some 
where  else  ;  so  put  down  the  book,  and  come  on." 

"  Yes,  in  a  minute." 

.  "  Now,  now,  I  say !  "  exclaimed  his  father,  in  a 
tone  of  authority  that  was  not  as  mild  as  it  might 
have  been. 

Abraham  closed  the  book  reluctantly,  and  obeyed 
because  he  must.  It  was  not  in  a  very  pleasant 
way  that  he  proceeded  to  the  field ;  and  yet  he 
went  to  work  with  a  will. 


132  THE   PIONEER   EOT. 

"  Good  boys  always  obey  their  parents,"  said 
his  father.  "  Don't  have  to  drive  them  to  it  as 
you  do  cattle." 

"  I  only  wanted  to  read  a  minute  more,"  an 
swered  Abraham,  as  if  to  palliate  his  offence. 

"  And  I  only  wanted  you  should  n't ;  and  I 
know  what  is  best  for  you.  I  want  you  should 
read  and  write ;  but  you  must  work  when  work 
drives." 

It  was  not  often  that  he  exhibited  so  much  dis 
obedience  as  he  did  in  this  case.  But  the  temp 
tation  to  read  was  too  strong  for  him. 

"  I  did  n't  mean  to  disobey,"  said  Abraham. 

"  Well,  I  don't  s'pose  you  did,"  answered  his 
father,  in  a  relenting  tone,  as  if  he  thought  that 
he  had  been  too  severe  in  his  censure.  "  When 
the  fall  work  is  over,  you  '11  have  a  plenty  of 
time  to  read  and  write ;  but  now  you  must  use 
only  your  spare  hours." 

So  Abraham  was  more  careful  for  a  time  in  re 
spect  to  this  matter.  Hanks  continued  to  come 
to  instruct  him  in  penmanship,  though  by  this 
time  he  could  write  almost  as  well  as  his  teacher. 

"  You  get  along  bravely,"  said  Hanks ;  "  ten 
times  as  fast  as  I  did." 

"  He  don't  think  of  much  else,"  replied  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

"  That  's  the  reason  he  gets  along  so  well,  I 
reckon,"  continued  Hanks. 


GOING  UP   HIGHER.  133 

u  It  may  be  so.  But  what 's  he  goin'  to  do  in 
the  winter,  when  he  has  more  time,  and  his  books 
are  read,  and  he  knows  how  to  write  ?  He  '11 
find  nothin'  to  do  then." 

"  I  '11  risk  him  ;  he  '11  find  enough  to  do,  I  '11 
warrant,"  said  Hanks,  in  reply.  "  By  the  way, 
that  new  settler  over  towards  the  mills  has  got  a 
Life  of  Washington." 

"  What,  Joslin,  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  was  there  the  other  day,  and  saw  it." 

"  I  'd  like  to  have  Abe  read  it.  Do  you  s'pose 
he  'd  lend  it  ?  " 

"  He  offered  to  lend  it  to  me.19 

"  There,  Abe,"  continued  his  father,  "  when  we 
get  through  the  fall  work,  I  '11  borrow  that  book 
for  you  if  I  can,  and  you  can  afford  to  work 
pretty  hard  for  a  spell  if  you  can  have  that." 

"  So  I  can,"  was  Abraham's  reply.  "  I  want 
to  read  the  life  of  Washington."  His  grandfather 
lived  when  Washington  was  leading  the  American 
army  to  victory,  and  Abraham  had  heard  many 
stories  told  by  his  father  of  those  perilous  times, 
and  Washington  was  always  the  hero  of  the  day. 
It  was  not  surprising,  then,  that  he  had  a  strong 
desire  to  read  the  book. 

"  If  you  see  Joslin  before  I  do,"  continued  Mr. 
Lincoln,  addressing  Hanks,  "  s'pose  you  speak  to 
him  about  the  book." 

"  I  will.  I  shall  see  him  next  week  or  week 
after." 


134  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

Thus  the  matter  was  arranged  about  the  book, 
and  Hanks  went  home. 

It  was  not  far  from  this  time  that  a  neighbor 
came  into  the  field  where  Abraham  and  his  father 
were  harvesting  the  corn ;  and  his  eye  was  at 
tracted  by  some  writing  on  the  ground. 

"  What 's  that  ?  "  he  inquired. 

Abraham  smiled,  and  let  his  father  answer. 

"  What 's  what  ?  " 

"  Why,  this  writing,  —  it  looks  as  if  somebody 
had  been  writing  on  the  ground." 

"  Abe's  work,  I  s'pose.  He  's  been  learnin'  to 
write." 

"  Abe  did  n't  do  that ! "  answered  the  neighbor. 

"  I  did  do  it  with  a  stick,"  said  Abe. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "     The  man  could  n't  read. 

"  It 's  my  name." 

"  Your  name,  hey  ?    Likely  story." 

"  Well,  'tis,  whether  you  believe  it  or  not  "  ;  and 
he  proceeded  to  spell  it  out,  — "  A-B-R-A-H-A-M 
L-I-N-C-O-L-N." 

"  Sure  enough,  it  is  ;  and  you  certainly  did  it, 
Abe?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  I  will  do  it  again,  if  you  want  to 
see  me  "  ;  and,  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  he 
caught  up  a  stick,  and  wrote  his  name  again  in 
the  dirt. 

"  There  't  is,"  said  Abraham. 

"  I  see  it,  and  it  's  well  done,"  answered  the 
neighbor. 


GOING   UP   HIGHER.  135 

And  there,  on  the  soil  of  Indiana,  Abraham  Lin 
coln  wrote  his  name,  with  a  stick,  in  large  charac 
ters,  —  a  sort  of  prophetic  act,  that  students  of 
history  may  love  to  ponder.  For,  since  that  day, 
he  has  "  gone  up  higher,"  and  written  his  name, 
by  public  acts,  on  the  annals  of  every  State  in  the 
Union. 

The  manner  in  which  Abraham  made  progress 
in  penmanship,  writing  on  slabs  and  trees,  on  the 
ground  and  in  the  snow,  anywhere  that  he  could  find 
a  place,  reminds  us  forcibly  of  Pascal,  who  demon 
strated  the 'first  thirty-two  propositions  of  Euclid  in 
his  boyhood,  without  the  aid  of  a  teacher.  Bent 
upon  gratifying  his  taste  in  this  direction,  he  cov 
ered  the  walls  of  his  play-room  with  geometrical 
figures,  drawn  with  a  piece  of  charcoal.  The  barn 
door  was  sometimes  his  blackboard,  and  the  ground 
itself  often  served  him  a  good  purpose,  in  the  absence 
of  something  better. 

In  like  manner  David  Wilkie,  who  became  the 
renowned  portrait-painter,  learned  to  wield  a  black 
ened  heather-stem  with  the  skill  of  a  veteran  artist. 
In  the  absence  of  brush  and  pencil,  he  would 
snatch  a  half-burnt  stick  from  the  fire,  and  draw 
capital  portraits  of  friends  upon  the  nursery  walls 
and  other  places.  lie  became  so  absorbed  in  ac 
quiring  the  art,  that  no  obstacles  could  deter  him. 
A  piece  of  chalk,  or  a  charred  stick,  and  a  board, 
sufficed  about  as  well  as  brush  and  canvas. 


136  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

Thus  boys  who  are  destined  to  become  men  of 
genius  and  power  are  wont  to  work  their  way  up 
higher  by  dint  of  perseverance.  They  do  what  they 
undertake.  They  know  no  such  word  as  fail.  Suc 
cess  is  their  motto  and  rule  of  life.  So  it  was  with 
Abraham.  Hitherto  we  have  seen  that  he  mastered 
every  book  put  into  his  hand,  and  his  subsequent 
career  we  shall  find  to  be  equally  distinguished  in 
this  respect.  As  he  acquired  the  art  of  writing  with 
the  smallest  facilities,  so  he  made  all  those  acquisi 
tions  that  will  appear  in  subsequent  pages  with  the 
poorest  advantages.  His  pursuit  of  knowledge  was 
under  difficulties  indeed ! 


XII. 

THE  LETTEK  AND  VISITOE, 


,  Abe,  you  must  write  a  letter  for  «me  to 
Parson  Elkins,"  said  his  father,  some  eight 
or  nine  months  after  Mrs.  Lincoln  died,  when  Abra 
ham  had  become  a  very  good  penman. 

"  What  shall  I  write"?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Write  about  the  death  of  your  mother.  He 
knows  nothin'  about  it  yet  ;  and  I  want  to  ask  him 
to  visit  us,  and  preach  a  funeral  sermon." 

"  When  shall  he  come  ?  " 

"  When  he  can,  I  s'pose.  He  '11  take  his  own 
time  for  it  ;  though  I  hope  he  '11  come  soon." 

"  Perhaps  he  's  dead,"  added  Abraham. 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  He  's  likely  to  die  as  mother,  ain't  he  ?  and  he 
may  be  dead  when  we  don't  know  it,  the  same  as 
she  's  dead  when  he  don't  know  it." 

"  Well,  there  's  somethin'  in  that,"  answered  his 
father,  smiling  at  the  aforesaid  reason.  "  Come, 
now,  there  's  some  paper  all  ready  for  it,  and  I  '11 
tell  you  what  to  write." 

Abraham  made  ready  to  pen  the  letter,  and  his 


138  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

father  proceeded  to  dictate  the  same.  He  directed 
him  to  write  about  the  death  of  Mrs.  Lincoln,  when 
it  occurred,  and  under  what  circumstances,  and  to 
invite  him  to  visit  them,  and  preach  a  funeral  ser 
mon.  He  also  gave  a  description  of  their  new  home, 
and  their  journey  thither,  and  wrote  of  their  future 
prospects.  Nor  did  he  fail  to  mention  that  he  had 
not  regretted  for  a  moment  the  exchange  he  made 
of  a  Slave  State  for  a  Free  State. 

"  Now  read  it  over,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"  The  whole  of  it  ?  " 

"  Of  course  ;  I  want  to  hear  it  all.  I  may  think 
of  somethin'  else  by  that  time." 

Abraham  commenced  to  read  it,  while  his  father 
sat  the  very  picture  of  satisfaction.  There  was  gen 
uine  happiness  to  him  in  having  his  son  prepared  to 
write  a  letter.  Never  before  had  there  been  a  mem 
ber  of  his  family  who  could  perform  this  feat.  It 
was  a  memorable  event  to  him. 

"  See  how  much  it  is  wuth  to  be  able  to  write," 
said  he,  as  Abraham  finished  reading  the  letter. 
"  It 's  wuth  ten  times  as  much  as  it  cost  to  be  able 
to  write  only  that  one  letter." 

"  It  ain't  much  work  to  learn  to  write,"  said 
Abraham;  "I'd  work  as  hard  again  for  it  before 
I'd  give  it  up." 

"  You  'd  have  to  give  it  up,  if  you  was  knocked 
about  as  I  was  when  a  boy." 

"  I  know  that." 


THE     F  I  H  S  T     I,  E  T  T  E  K 


THE   LETTER   AND   VISITOR.  139 

"  You  don't  know  it  as  I  do  ;  and  I  hope  you 
never  will.  But  it's  wuth  more  than  the  best 
farm  to  know  how  to  write  a  letter  as  well  as 
that." 

"  I  shall  write  one  better  than  that  yet,"  said 
Abraham.  "  But  how  long  will  it  take  for  the 
letter  to  go  to  Parson  Elkins  ?  " 

"  That 's  more  than  I  can  tell ;  but  it  will  go 
there  some  time,  and  I  hope  it  will  bring  him 
here." 

"  He  won't  want  to  come  so  far  as  this,"  said 
Abraham. 

"  It  ain't  so  far  for  him  as  it  was  for  us." 

"  Why  ain't  it  ?  " 

"  Because  he  lives  nearer  the  line  of  Indiana  than 
we  did.  It  ain't  more  than  seventy-five  miles  for 
him  to  come,  and  he  often  rides  as  far  as  that." 

The  letter  went  on  its  errand,  and  Abraham  was 
impatient  to  learn  the  result.  On  the  whole,  it 
was  rather  an  important  event  in  his  young  life, 
—  the  writing  of  that  first  letter.  Was  it  strange 
that  he  should  query  whether  it  would  reach  the 
good  minister  to  whom  it  was  sent  ?  Would  it  be 
strange  if  the  writing  of  it  proved  one  of  the  happy 
influences  that  started  him  off  upon  a  career  of  use 
fulness  and  fame  ?  We  shall  see. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  much  to  say  to  his  neighbors 
about  the  letter  that  his  son  had  written,  and  they 
had  much  to  say  to  him.  It  was  considered  re- 


140  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

markable  for  a  boy  of  his  age  to  do  such  a  thing 
Not  one  quarter  of  the  adults  in  all  that  region 
could  write ;  and  this  fact  rendered  the  ability  of 
the  boy  in  this  regard  all  the  more  marvellous. 
It  was  noised  abroad,  and  the  result  was,  that  Abra 
ham  had  frequent  applications  from  the  neighbors 
to  write  letters  for  them.  Nor  was  he  indisposed 
to  gratify  their  wishes.  One  of  his  traits  of  char 
acter  was  a  generous  disposition  to  assist  others, 
and  it  prompted  him  to  yield  to  their  wishes  in 
writing  letters  for  them.  Nor  was  it  burdensome 
to  him,  but  the  opposite.  He  delighted  to  do  it. 
And  thus,  as  a  consequence  of  his  acquiring  the 
art  of  penmanship,  far-distant  and  long-absent 
friends  of  the  pioneer  families  heard  from  their 
loved  ones.  * 

The  letter  brought  the  Parson.  After  the  lapse 
of  about  three  months  he  came.  The  letter  reached 
him  in  Kentucky,  after  considerable  delay,  and  lie 
embraced  the  first  opportunity  to  visit  his  old 
friends.  Abraham  had  almost  concluded  that  his 
letter  was  lost,  as  the  favorite  minister  did  not 
come.  But  one  day,  when  the  lad  was  about  two 
miles  from  home,  who  should  he  see  coming  but 
Parson  Elkins,  on  his  old  bay  horse !  He  recog 
nized  him  at  once,  and  was  delighted  to  see  him. 

"  Why,  Abe,  is  that  you  ?  "  exclaimed  the  Par 
son.  "  Am  I  so  near  your  home  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  did  you  get  my  letter  ?  "     Abraham 


THE    LETTER   AND    VISITOR.  141 

thought  of  the  memorable  letter  the  first  thing.  He 
had  good  evidence  before  him  that  the  letter  reached 
its  destination,  but  he  would  know  certainly. 

"  Your  letter  !  "  exclaimed  Parson  Elkins,  inquir 
ingly.  "  I  got  your  father's  letter."  Abraham  did 
not  stop  to  think  that  the  letter  went  in  his  father's 
name. 

"  I  wrote  it,"  he  said. 

"  You  wrote  it !     Is  that  so  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  father  can't  write,  you  know." 

"  0  yes  ;  I  do  remember  now  that  he  could  n't 
write  ;  and  so  you  did  it  ?  And  how  did  you  learn 
to  write  ?  Not  many  boys  that  can  write  like  that." 

"  Dennis  showed  me  how,  and  that  was  the  first 
letter  I  ever  wrote." 

"  Better  still  is  that,  —  the  first  one  ?  Well,  you 
need  n't  be  ashamed  of  that." 

They  were  advancing  towards  the  cabin  'during 
this  conversation,  Abraham  running  alongside  of 
the  horse,  and  the  Parson  looking  kindly  upon  him. 

"  There  's  our  house  ! "  exclaimed  Abraham,  as 
they  came  in  sight  of  it.  "  We  live  there,"  point 
ing  with  his  finger. 

"  Ah  !  that 's  a  pleasant  place  to  live.  And 
there  's  your  father,  I  think,  too." 

"  Yes,  that 's  him.     He  '11  be  glad  to  see  you." 

"  And  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  him." 

By  this  time  they  came  near  Mr.  Lincoln,  who 
recognized  Parson  Elkins,  and  gave  him  a  most  cor- 


142  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

dial  greeting.  He  was  really  taken  by  surprise, 
although  he  had  not  relinquished  all  expectation  of 
the  Parson's  coming. 

"  You  find  me  in  a  lonely  condition,"  said  Mr. 
Lincoln.  "  Death  has  made  a  great  change  in  my 
family." 

"  Very  great  indeed,"  responded  Mr.  Elkins.  "  1 
know  how  great  your  loss  is ;  but  I  trust  that  tho 
Lord  sustains  you.  4  Whom  the  Lord  loveth,  he 
chasteneth.'  " 

"  Yes ;  and  I  've  wanted  to  see  you  more  than 
anybody  else  in  this  trial." 

"  And  how  did  she  die  ?  As  she  lived,  I  sup 
pose  ?  " 

"  0  yes.  She  was  as  calm  and  happy  in  dying 
as  she  had  been  in  living." 

"  And  your  loss  is  her  gain." 

"  I  've  no  doubt  of  that,  —  not  at  all." 

"  Nobody  can  have  any  doubts  of  it." 

"  Now,  let  me  say,  that,  while  you  are  here,  I 
want  you 'should  preach  a  funeral  sermon.  You 
know  all  about  my  wife.  You  will  stay  over  next 
Sunday,  won't  you  ?  "  It  was  now  Wednesday. 

"  Why,  yes,  I  can  stay  as  long  as  that,  though  1 
must  be  about  my  Master's  work." 

"  You  will  be  about  your  Master's  work,  if  you 
stay  and  preach  a  funeral  sermon  ;  and  it  may  do  a 
great  sight  of  good." 

"  Very  true  ;  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  stay ;  for  if 


THE    LETTER    AND    VISITOR.  143 

any  one  ever  deserved  a  funeral  sermon,  it  is  your 
wife.  But  where  shall  I  preach  it  ?  " 

"  At  her  grave.  I  've  had  that  arranged  in  my 
mind  for  a  long  time ;  and  we  '11  notify  the  peo 
ple  ;  there  will  bo  a  large  attendance.  The  people 
thought  a  deal  of  her  here." 

It  was  arrranged  that  Mr.  Elkins  should  preach 
the  funeral  sermon  at  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Lincoln  on. 
the  following  Sabbath.  Accordingly  notice  was  sent 
abroad  to  the  distance  of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  and 
a  platform  was  erected  near  the  grave.  Every  prep 
aration  was  made  for  the  solemn  event.  Although 
a  whole  year  had  elapsed  since  Mrs.  Lincoln  died, 
yet  a  sermon  to  her  memory  was  no  less  interesting 
to  her  surviving  friends. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Elkins  busied  himself  in 
intercourse  with  the  family ;  and  he  visited  some  of 
the  neighbors,  and  conversed  with  them  on  spiritual 
things.  Abraham,  too,  received  his  special  atten 
tion.  The  boy  had  improved  rapidly  since  he  left 
Kentucky,  and  his  remarkable  precocity  was  suited 
to  draw  the  attention  of  such  a  preacher. 

"  You  've  found  out  what  a  pioneer  boy  is,  I  sup 
pose,  Abe,"  he  said,  alluding  to  his  pleasant  con 
versation  with  him  on  the  subject  in  Kentucky. 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  boy;  "father  was  telling 
Mr.  Tuinham  of  it  the  other  day,"  meaning  that  his 
father  spoke  of  Mr.  Elkins's  conversation  with  his 
boy  to  the  aforesaid  neighbor. 


144  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Well,  I  trust  you  've  proved  yourself  a  pretty 
good  one.  You  like  to  read  and  write,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  the  best  of  anything." 

"  Well,  that  hardly  belongs  to  a  pioneer  boy. 
Very  few  o^  them  can  read  and  write.  Living  in 
the  woods  is  not  calculated  to  improve  one  in  this 
respect.  It  may  be  that  you  won't  always  live  in 
the  woods,  however." 

"  So  father  says ;  but  I  don't  see  how  we  can  live 
anywhere  else  now." 

"  The  Lord  will  provide  a  way  perhaps.  He  took 
Moses  out  of  the  river  to  lead  the  children  of  Is 
rael." 

"  Moses  lived  in  the  king's  palace,  did  n't  he  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  he  was  n't  born  there." 

"He  went  to  school  there,"  added  Abraham. 

"  Ah !  "  I  see  that  you  are  familiar  with  the  Bi 
ble  ;  and  this  you  owe  to  your  blessed  mother. 
Dear  soul !  Would  that  she  could  have  lived  to 
teach  and  guide  you  up  to  manhood  !  " 

Abraham's  eye  grew  tearful  at  these  words  ;  for 
they  revived  the  memory  of  his  excellent  mother. 

The  Sabbath  arrived, —  a  bright,  beautiful  day. 
From  a  distance  of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  the  set 
tiers  came  to  listen  to  the  sermon.  Entire  families 
assembled,  parents  and  children,  from  the  oldest  to 
the  youngest.  Hoary  age  and  helpless  childhood 
were  there.  They  came  in  carts,  on  horseback,  and 
on  foot,  any  way  to  get  there.  As  they  had  preach- 


THE   LETTER   AND   VISITOR.  145 

ing  only  when  one  of  these  pioneer  preachers  visited 
that  vicinity,  it  was  a  treat  to  most  of  the  inhab 
itants,  and  they  manifested  their  interest  by  a  gen 
eral  turn-out.  The  present  occasion,  however,  was 
an  unusual  one,  as  the  funeral  sermon  of  Mrs.  Lin 
coln  was  to  be  preached. 

Parson  Elkins  was  an  earnest  man,  and  the  occa 
sion  inspired  him  with  unusual  fervor.  None  of  the 
people  had  ever  listened  to  him  before,  except  the 
Lincoln  family,  and  they  were  delighted  with  his 
services.  His  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Lin 
coln  was  considered  just  and  excellent.  None 
thought  that  too  much  was  said  in  her  praise.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  general  feeling  was,  rather,  as 
one  of  the  number  expressed  it,  that,  "  say  what  he 
might  in  praise  of  her,  he  could  n't  say  too  much." 

Abraham  was  deeply  Interested  in  the  sermon, 
and  it  brought  all  of  his  mother's  tenderness  and 
love  afresh  to  his  mind.  To  him  it  was  almost  like 
attending  her  funeral  over  again.  Her  silent  dust 
was  within  a  few  feet  of  him,  and  vivid  recollection 
of  her  exceeding  worth  was  in  his  heart.  Was  it 
strange  that  tears  came  unbidden  to  his  eye  ?  that 
his  heart  heaved  with  emotion  that  he  vainly  strove 
to  conceal  ?  No  !  A  boy  of  such  filial  love,  and 
noble,  generous  nature,  could  not  suppress  the  deep 
feelings  of  his  heart. 

He  drank  in  the  sentiments  of  the  discourse,  too. 
He  usually  did  this,  as  he  was  accustomed  to  think 


146  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

for  himself.  Often  he  criticised  the  sermons  to 
which  he  listened,  much  to  the  amusement  of  those 
with  whom  he  conversed.  He  sometimes  called  in 
question  the  doctrines  preached.  This  was  one  of 
the  things  in  which  his  precocity  appeared.  It  was 
at  this  point  that  his  mental  activity  and  power  was 
often  seen.  But  the  sentiments  of  the  aforesaid 
funeral  sermon  especially  impressed  his  mind. 

"  Don't  the  Bible  say  that  the  body  returns  to 
dust  ?  "  he  inquired,  on  that  Sabbath  evening,  as  he 
sat  thoughtfully  in  the  cabin.  His  inquiry  was  ad 
dressed  to  his  father,  though  Mr.  Elkins  was  present. 

"  Yes ;  and  the  soul  to  God  who  gave  it,"  an 
swered  his  father. 

"  Then  how  can  the  body  rise  ?  "  The  preacher 
had  represented  his  sainted  mother's  body  as  rising 
from  that  solitary  spot  on  the  resurrection  morn. 

"  Mr.  Elkins  will  tell  you  that,"  his  father  replied. 

Abraham  looked  towards  the  preacher  for  an  an 
swer. 

"  That  's  worth  thinking  of,"  said  Mr.  Elkins ; 
"  and  I  'm  glad  to  see  that  you  think  about  these 
things.  Many  boys  let  it  go  into  one  ear  and  out 
of  the  other.  You  don't  see  how  the  body  that 
returns  to  dust  can  rise  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  if  it  turns  to  dust,  it  ain't  a  body  any 
more." 

"  But  God  can  bring  together  every  particle  of 
that  body  again,  if  he  chooses,  and  make  it  rise, 
can't  he  ? " 


THE   LETTER   AND    VISITOR.  147 

"  How  ?  "  was  Abraham's  only  answer.  He  could 
not  understand  it. 

"  That 's  more  than  I  can  tell ;  but  all  things  are 
possible  with  God  ;  and  the  Bible  says  that  the  body 
will  rise  at  the  last  day,  and  we  ought  to  believe  it, 
should  n't  we  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  if  the  Bible  says  so."  Abraham  could 
not  question  the  truth  of  the  Bible  after  the  mater 
nal  lessons  he  had  enjoyed. 

"  We  can't  fully  understand  everything  that  is 
true,"  continued  the  preacher.  "  I  don't  know 
how  the  grass  grows,  but  it  grows  for  all  that." 

Abraham  looked  puzzled.  He  was  a  very  inquisi 
tive  boy,  and  was  always  putting  questions  abaut 
the  reason  of  things.  He  wanted  to  understand 
everything  to  which  he  gave  his  attention.  For  this 
reason,  as  we  shall  see,  he  mastered  every  study  to 
which  he  attended,  whether  he  had  a  teacher  or  not. 
This  desire  to  know  why  things  are  so  and  so  is  the 
secret  of  success  to  men  who  make  their  mark.  It 
serves  to  make  them  think  and  investigate.  It  was 
so  with  Abraham,  and  he  did  not  like  to  dispose  of 
any  subject  by  saying  that  it  could  not  be  under 
stood.  Hence  he  looked  perplexed  and  unsatisfied. 

This  is  but  one  instance  of  his  precocious  inqui 
ries  upon  difficult  subjects.  Many  might  be  cited, 
showing  that  his  active  brain  busied  itself  upon  sub 
jects  that  were  pressed  upon  his  attention.  In  his 
reading  the  same  thing  was  manifest.  He  talked 


148  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

about  the  subject-matter  of  the  books  he  read,  criti 
cised  them,  and  expressed  his  views  freely.  From 
the  time  he  read  Pilgrim's  Progress  to  his  manhood, 
this  was  true  of  him.  In  this  respect  he  was  unlike 
most  boys,  who  are  superficial  in  their  views  of 
things.  They  read,  and  that  is  the  end  of  it.  They 
think  no  more  about  it,  —  at  least,  they  do  not  in 
quire  into  the  ivhy  and  wherefore  of  matters  stated ; 
and  so  the  habit  of  sliding  over  things  loosely  is 
formed.  They  do  not  think  for  themselves.  They 
accept  things  as  true,  because  others  say  they  are 
true.  They  are  satisfied  with  knowing  that  things 
are,  without  asking  why  they  are.  But  Abraham 
was  not  so.  He  thought,  reflected  ;  and  this  devel 
oped  his  mental  powers  faster  than  even  school  could 
do  it. 

The  reader  should  understand  more  about  these 
pioneer  preachers,  in  order  to  appreciate  the  influ 
ences  that  formed  Abraham's  character,  and  there 
fore  we  will  stop  here  to  give  some  account  of  them. 

They  were  not  generally  men  of  learning  and 
culture,  though  some  of  them  were  men  of  talents. 
Few,  if  any  of  them,  were  ever  in  college,  and 
some  of  them  were  never  in  school.  But  they  had 
a  call  to  preach,  as  they  believed,  and  good  and 
true  hearts  for  doing  it.  Many  of  them  preached 
almost  every  day,  travelling  from  place  to  place  on 
horseback,  studying  their  sermons  in  the  saddle, 
and  carrying  about  with  them  all  the  library  they 


THE  LETTER  AND   VISITOR.  149 

had  in  their  saddle-bags.  They  stopped  where 
night  overtook  them,  and  it  was  sometimes  miles 
away  from  any  human  habitation,  with  no  bed  but 
the  earth,  and  no  covering  but  the  canopy  of 
heaven.  They  labored  without  a  salary,  and  were 
often  poorly  clothed  and  scantily  fed,  being  con 
strained  to  preach  by  the  love  of  Christ.  The  fol 
lowing  account  of  two  pioneer  preachers,  by  Milburn, 
will  give  the  reader  a  better  idea  of  this  class  of 
useful  men  than  any  description  of  ours,  and  it  will 
be  read  with  interest. 

"  One  of  these  preachers,  who  travelled  all  through 
the  Northwestern  Territory, '  a  tall,  slender,  grace 
ful  '  man,  '  with  a  winning  countenance  and  kindly 
eye,'  greatly  beloved  by  all  to  whom  he  ministered, 
was  presented  by  a  large  landholder  with  a  title-deed 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  The  preacher 
was  extremely  poor,  and  there  had  been  many  times 
when  he  received  scarcely  enough  support  to  keep 
soul  and  body  together.  Yet  he  labored  on,  and 
did  much  good.  He  seemed  pleased  with  his  pres 
ent  of  land,  and  went  on  his  way  with  a  grateful 
heart.  But  in  three  months  he  returned,  and  met 
his  benefactor  at  the  door,  saying,  '  Here,  sir,  I 
want  to  give  you  back  your  title-deed.' 

"  '  What 's  the  matter  ? '  said  his  friend,  surprised. 
*  Any  flaw  in  it  ? ' 

"  «  No.' 


150  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

«  « Is  n't  it  good  land  ? ' 

"  '  Good  as  any  in  the  State.' 

"  <  Sickly  situation  ? ' 

"  *  Healthy  as  any  other.' 

"  *  Do  you  think  I  repent  my  gift  ? ' 

" l  I  have  n't  the  slightest  reason  to  doubt  your 
generosity.' 

"  '  Why  don't  you  keep  it,  then  ? ' 

"  <  Well,  sir,'  said  the  preacher, '  you  know  I  am 
very  fond  of  singing,  and  there  's  one  hymn  in  my 
book  the  singing  of  which  is  one  of  the  greatest 
comforts  of  my  life.  I  have  not  been  able  to  sing 
it  with  my  whole  heart  since  I  was  here.  A  part 
of  it  runs  in  this  way :  — 

"No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess, 
No  cottage  in  the  wilderness; 
A  poor  wayfaring  man, 
I  lodge  awhile  in  tents  below, 
And  gladly  wander  to  and  fro, 
Till  I  my  Canaan  gain; 
There  is  my  house  and  portion  fair 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there, 
And  my  abiding  home." 

"  '  Take  your  title-deed,'  he  added  ;  *  I  had  rather 
sing  that  hymn  with  a  clear  conscience  than  own 
America.' 

"  There  was  another  preacher  of  the  pioneer  class 
so  intent  upon  his  work  that  hunger  and  nakedness 
did  not  affright  him.  He  was  more  scholarly  than 
most  of  the  preachers  around  him,  and  often  sat  up 


THE  LETTER   AND   VISITOR.  151 

half  the  night,  at  the  cabins  of  the  hunters  wnere 
he  stopped,  to  study.  These  cabins  were  about 
twelve  by  fourteen  feet,  and  furnished  accommoda 
tions  for  the  family,  sometimes  numbering  ten  or 
twelve  children  ;  and,  as  the  forests  abounded  in 
4  varmints ,'  the  hens  and  chickens  were  taken  in  for 
safe  keeping.  Here,  after  the  family  retired,  he 
would  light  a  pine  knot,  '  stick  it  up  in  one  corner 
of  the  huge  fireplace,  lay  himself  down  on  the  flat 
of  his  stomach  in  the  ashes/  and  study  till  far  into 
the  night. 

"  Many  a  time  was  the  bare,  bleak  mountain-side 
his  bed,  the  wolves  yelling  a  horrid  chorus  in  his 
ears.  Sometimes  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  find 
a  hollow  log,  within  whose  cavity  he  inserted  his 
body,  and  found  it  a  good  protection  from  the  rain 
or  frost. 

"  Once,  seated  at  the  puncheon  dinner-table  with 
a  hunter's  family,  the  party  is  startled  by  affrighted 
screams  from  the  door-yard.  Rushing  out,  they  be 
hold  a  great  wildcat  bearing  off  the  youngest  child. 
Seizing  a  rifle  from  the  pegs  over  the  door,  the 
preacher  raises  it  to  his  shoulder,  casts  a  rapid 
glance  along  the  barrel,  and  delivers  his  fire.  The 
aim  has  been  unerring,  but  too  late,  —  the  child 
is  dead,  already  destroyed  by  the  fierce  animal. 

"  That  same  year  he  had  a  hand-to-hand  fight 
with  a  bear,  from  which  conflict  he  came  forth 
victor,  his  knife  entering  the  vitals  of  the  crea- 


152  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

ture  just  as  he  was  about  to  be  enfolded  in  the 
fatal  hug. 

"  Often  he  emerged  from  the  wintry  stream,  his 
garments  glittering  in  the  clear,  cold  sunlight,  as 
if  they  had  been. of  burnished  steel  armor,  chill  as 
the  touch  of  death.  During  that  twelvemonth,  in 
the  midst  of  such  scenes,  he  travelled  on  foot  and 
horseback  four  thousand  miles,  preached  four  hun 
dred  times,  and  found,  on  casting  up  the  receipts, 
—  yarn  socks,  woollen  vests,  cotton  shirts,  and  a 
little  silver  change,  —  that  his  salary  amounted  to 
twelve  dollars  and  ten  cents. 

"  Yet  he  persevered,  grew  in  knowledge  and  in 
fluence,  became  a  doctor  of  divinity,  and  finally 
was  made  president  of  a  university.  He  is  known 
on  the  page  of  history  as  Henry  Bidleman  Bascom." 

Such  were  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  West ; 
of  simple-hearted  piety,  lofty  faith,  a  fiery  zeal,  un 
wavering  fortitude,  and  a  practical  turn  of  mind, 
through  which  they  did  a  great  work  for  God. 

We  have  made  this  digression  from  the  thread 
of  our  story,  to  show  what  influences  of  the  min 
istry  were  thrown  around  Abraham's  early  life.  It 
is  true  the  preachers  to  whom  he  listened  were 
not  "  circuit-riders,'*  as  travelling  preachers  were 
called.  They  were  Baptist  ministers,  who  lived 
within  twenty  miles,  and  who  occasionally  preached 
in  that  neighborhood.  During  the  first  few  years 


THE  LETTER  AND   VISITOR.  153 

of  Abraham's  residence  in  Indiana,  there  was  one 
Jeremiah  Cash  who  sometimes  preached  in  the 
vicinity,  and  the  young  listener  became  much  inter 
ested  in  him.  A  few  years  later,  two  others  came 
to  that  section  of  country  to  live.  Their  names 
were  John  Richardson  and  Young  Lamar.  One  of 
them  dwelt  seven  or  eight  miles  from  Abraham's 
home  on  the  north,  and  the  other  eight  or  ten  miles 
to  the  south  ;  and  both  of  them  were  wont  to  preach 
at  Mr.  Lincoln's  cabin,  and  at  other  cabins,  as  they 
had  opportunity.  Sometimes  they  preached  in  the 
open  air,  as  Mr.  Elkins  did  the  funeral  sermon. 
This  was  always  the  case  when  more  people  at 
tended  than  could  crowd  into  a  log-house. 

Such  was  all  the  pulpit  influence  that  reached 
the  boyhood  and  youth  of  Abraham.  Yet  it  left  in 
delible  impressions  upon  his  mind.  Though  it  was 
small  and  inconstant,  apparently,  in  comparison 
with  the  pulpit  advantages  that  boys  enjoy  at  the 
present  day,  it  imbued  his  soul  with  sentiments  that 
were  never  obliterated.  He  was  much  indebted  to 
the  unpolished  eloquence  of  those  pioneer  preachers, 
whose  sterling  piety  caused  them  to  proclaim  the 
truth  with  fidelity  and  earnestness.  This  was  one 
of  the  few  influences  that  contributed  to  make  him 
a  remarkable  man. 


7* 


XIII. 

AT  SCHOOL  AGAIN. 

NEAKLY  a  year  more  passed.  The  sermon  by 
Parson  Elkins  had  ceased  to  be  a  theme  of 
conversation  among  the  settlers.  Abraham  had 
continued  to  assist  his  father,  and  devote  his  leisure 
moments  to  reading  and  writing.  Time  that  other 
boys  would  spend  in  play  he  employed  in  poring 
over  books.  If  he  had  no  new  ones  to  peruse,  he 
read  his  old  ones. 

In  the  mean  time,  also,  his  father  married  Mrs. 
Sally  Johnston,  of  Elizabeth  town,  Kentucky.  It  was 
an  event  of  great  joy  to  Abraham,  and  he  gave  his 
step-mother  a  most  cordial  welcome.  The  thought 
of  having  the  place  of  his  departed  mother  filled  in 
the  family  was  the  source  of  real  pleasure  to  him. 
The  long  period  of  loneliness  that  had  elapsed  since 
his  rnother'-s  death  served  to  make  him  doubly 
value  the  presence  of  one  who  would  fill  her  place 
well.  He  did  not  receive  her  as  a  stranger.  He  did 
not  cherish  the  least  suspicion  that  she  would  prove 
otherwise  tkan  a  loving  parent.  He  gave  her  his 
confidence  at  once,  and  she  bestowed  upon  him  such 


AT   SCHOOL   AGAIN.  155 

care  and  tender  regard  as  only  a  thoughtful,  pious, 
faithful  mother  would.  A  mutual  good  understand 
ing  and  affection  sprang  up  between  them,  and  it 
was  never  interrupted.  Abraham  obeyed  her  with 
a  true  filial  love,  and  she  still  survives  to  bear  wit 
ness  to  his  obedience,  diligence,  and  truthfulness. 
He  gave  her  just  the  place  in  his  young  heart  that 
his  own  mother  occupied,  and  he  was  made  happy 
by  this  honorable  course.  Nor  did  he  ever  have 
occasion  to  repent  of  his  acts  in  this  respect,  for  she 
proved  a  worthy  successor  of  her  who  had  rested 
nearly  two  years  from  her  labors.  "We  shall  know 
her  in  future  pages  only  as  his  mother. 

Boys  are  apt  to  take  advantage  of  such  circum 
stances,  and  claim  greater  liberties  with  step-mothers 
than  they  did  with  the  mothers  who  bore  them. 
Often  they  are  less  affectionate  and  obedient,  and 
disposed  to  have  their  own  way,  as  if  a  mother-in- 
law  had  less  right  to  control  them.  But  it  was  not 
so  with  Abraham.  He  received  her  as  a  mother,  and 
loved  and  obeyed  her  as  such.  He  was  not  more 
respectful  to  his  own  mother  than  he  was  to  her. 

His  new  mother  saw  at  once  that  he  was  no  com 
mon  boy.  She  was  struck  with  his  intelligence, 
knowledge,  and  uprightness.  She  had  never  seen 
his  like.  Of  course  she  could  scarcely  help  being 
deeply  interested  in  his  welfare. 

About  this  time,  among  the  families  that  came 
into  that  region  to  settle,  was  that  of  Mr.  Andrew 


156  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

Crawford.  He  was  a  man  of  more  culture  than 
most  of  the  settlers,  and  was  able  to  teach  reading, 
writing,  and  arithmetic  as  far  as  the  Rule  of  Three. 
His  abilities  becoming  known,  Mr.  Lincoln  urged 
him  to  open  a  school  in  his  cabin,  and  promised  to 
send  Abraham,  to  which  the  man  assented. 

"  Another  chance  for  you  to  go  to  school,"  said 
Mr.  Lincoln  to  his  son,  on  returning  home. 

"  Where  ?  " 

"  That  man  Crawford,  who  moved  in  a  little  while 
ago,  will  begin  school  in  a  week." 

"  Have  you  seen  him  ?  "  inquired  Abraham. 

"  Yes,  and  he  knows  a  great  sight  more  than 
Hazel.  He  can  learn  you  to  cipher." 

"  He  can  ?  "  and  Abraham's  reply  indicated  that 
he  scarcely  expected  to  see  a  man  in  that  vicinity 
who  could  teach  arithmetic. 

"  I  can  spare  you  some  time  now,  and  it  will  be 
a  good  chance  for  you  to  learn  to  cipher." 

"  When  will  he  begin  school  ?  " 

"  Next  week,  no  doubt ;  and  two  miles  will  be 
just  far  enough  for  you  to  walk  to  keep  your  legs 
limber." 

"  What  shall  I  do  for  a  book  to  cipher  out  of  ?  " 

"  As  to  that,  I  can  find  one  somewhere.  I  shall 
go  to  market  before  the  week  is  out,  and  I'll  see 
what  I  can  find  among  the  settlers  there  or  on  the 
way.  I  must  have  you  study  'rithmetic  somehow." 

"  A  fine  opportunity,  Abe,  for  you  to  improve," 


AT   SCHOOL   AGAIN.  157 

added  his  mother,  who  liked  the  plan  of  his  going  to 
school.  "  I  think  you  will  like  Mr.  Crawford.  He 
appears  to  be  a  nice  man." 

"  That 's  so,"  said  his  father  ;  "  I  like  Mr.  Craw 
ford  much,  what  I  've  seen  of  him.  It 's  a  real 
blessin'  to  have  such  a  man  come  here  to  live." 

"  Who  else  will  go  to  school  ?  "  inquired  Abra 
ham. 

"  There  '11  be  as  many  as  he  wants.  Mr.  Turn- 
ham's  boy  will  go,  and  Mr.  Neale's  girl,  no  doubt. 
Most  all  of  the  children  can  be  spared  now  for  a 
while." 

"  But  some  of  'em  can't  go,  because  they  are  too 
poor." 

"  That  may  be  ;  but  most  on  'em  can  go  if  they  're 
a  mind  to." 

Thus  the  way  was  opened  for  Abraham  to  attend 
school  again,  and  preparations  were  made  for  the 
event.  A  new  suit  of  clothes  was  made  for  him,  as 
his  old  suit  had  become  worn  and  ragged.  It  was 
not  made  of  broadcloth  or  cassimere,  as  boys' 
clothes  are  now,  but  of  "  dressed  buckskin,"  a  very 
durable  article.  What  it  lacked  in  beauty  was 
made  up  in  strength.  His  father  found  an  old 
arithmetic,  and  purchased  it  for  him.  Also  a  new 
cap  was  made  for  him  out  of  a  raccoon-skin.  At 
that  day  men  and  boys  wore  straw  hats  in  summer 
and  fur  caps  in  winter.  Mothers  could  easily  pro 
vide  their  boys  with  fur  caps,  since  the  skins  of  aiii- 


158  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

inals  could  always  be  easily  obtained.  Tims  pre 
pared,  Abraham  went  to  Mr.  Crawford's  school. 

One  Monday  morning,  as  the  scholars  assembled, 
and  were  having  a  frolic  before  school-hour,  their 
conversation  turned  upon  a  sermon  they  heard 
Jeremiah  Cash  preach  on  the  day  before. 

"  I  liked  the  sermon  the  best  of  any  I  ever  heard 
him  preach,"  said  Abraham.  It  was  from  the  text, 
"  So  they  took  up  Jonah,  and  cast  him  forth  into 
the  sea ;  and  the  sea  ceased  from  her  raging." 
(Jonah  i.  15.) 

"  He  put  it  on  to  Jonah,"  said  David  Turnham, 
with  a  laugh. 

"  And  everybody  else  who  don't  do  right,"  an 
swered  Abraham.  "  I  can  say  half  of  his  sermon 
now." 

"  You  can't,"  replied  David. 

"I  know  I  can,  and  if  you  don't  believe  it,  I'll 
try." 

"  Try,  then,"  added  David.  "  Get  on  that  stump, 
and  let  us  have  a  preach,"  and  he  pointed  to  a 
large  stump  a  rod  distant. 

"  You  think  I  can't  do  it,"  continued  Abraham ; 
"  but  I  '11  let  you  know  iliat  I  can."  So  he 
mounted  the  stump  and  began  the  sermon.  He 
gave  the  text,  and  proceeded  to  expound  the  truth, 
much  to  the  merriment  of  the  boys.  He  repeated 
the  several  heads  correctly,  and  actually  rehearsed 
a  good  part  of  the  sermon. 


AT   SCHOOL   AGAIN.  159 

"  Well  done,  Abe ! "  exclaimed  one  of  the  boys  ; 
"  that 's  what  nobody  else  can  do.  You  can  preach 
it  next  Sunday,  if  you  're  a  mind  to." 

"  I  '11  come  and  hear  you,"  said  David. 

"  And  so  will  I,"  added  another. 

"  And  I  too,"  still  another. 

After  this,  Abraham  often  repeated  portions  of 
sermons  to  which  he  had  listened,  just  to  gratify 
his  companions.  He  possessed  a  retentive  memory, 
and,  what  was  better,  he  was  a  very  close  listener. 
An  active  mind  like  his  is  likely  to  appropriate 
what  it  hears,  especially  when  its  thirst  for  knowl 
edge  is  so  great.  His  habit  of  close  attention  had 
quite  as  much  to  do  with  his  ability  to  repeat  por 
tions  of  sermons  as  his  retentive  memory.  The 
young  are  too  apt  to  be  listless,  inattentive  in  the 
house  of  God.  They  recollect  little  of  the  sermons 
they  hear,  because  they  do  not  give  heed  thereto. 
Let  them  listen  as  Abraham  did,  and  become  ab 
sorbed  in  the  sermon,  and  they  will  be  able  to 
appropriate  much  of  what  they  hear. 

Mr.  Crawford,  from  the  door  of  his  cabin,  heari 
Abraham  in  the  above  effort,  and  he  was  truly  sur 
prised.  He  had  seen  enough  of  the  lad  before  to 
become  impressed  with  his  abilities,  but  this  boyish 
act  won  his  admiration.  He  thought  it  was  re 
markable.  He  had  never  seen  a  boy  who  could  do 
that  before.  He  did  not  think  that  another  boy 
could  do  it  as  well. 


160  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

The  celebrated  Dr.  Chalmers  carried  this  matter 
further  still  in  his  boyhood.  He  would  not  only 
repeat  portions  of  sermons  to  which  he  listened  in 
the  presence  of  his  mates,  but  he  would  even  select 
a  text,  and  discourse  from  it  when  standing  in  a 
chair.  He  was  not  more  than  nine  years  of  age 
when  he  did  this. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  of  English  states 
men  was  still  more  remarkable  in  his  boyhood  for 
the  ability  to  rep'eat  sermons  that  he  heard.  At 
eight  years  of  age,  his  father  would  stand  him  upon 
the  table,  and  require  him  to  repeat  the  sermon  that 
he  heard  on  the  day  before,  and  he  would  do  it  with 
considerable  accuracy. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  what  similarity  in  such 
things  there  is  among  the  men  who  have  made  their 
mark  in  the  world.  Whatever  calling  of  life  they 
have  chosen,  there  are  certain  elements  of  success 
that  are  traceable  even  back  to  their  childhood. 

But  we  were  to  speak  of  the  school.  Some  eight 
or  ten  children  attended,  and  Abraham  gave  special 
attention  to  arithmetic.  He  did  not  neglect  read 
ing  and  writing,  but  continued  to  attend  to  those 
branches.  His  whole  lie  art  was  in  his  school,  and 
his  advancement  was  rapid. 

"  Abe  is  a  wonderful  boy,"  said  Crawford  to  Mr. 
Lincoln  one  day.  "  He  is  never  satisfied  without 
knowing  all  about  his  lessons." 

"  He  has  been  so  all  his  days,"  replied  his  father. 


AT   SCHOOL   AGAIN.  1G1 

"  He  wants  to  know  everything  that  anybody  else 
does,  and  he  don't  see  why  he  can't." 

"  That  's  it.  I  've  been  surprised  to  see  what 
pluck  he  has  to  master  a  lesson." 

"  As  to  that,  he  's  just  so  about  everything  else. 
He  does  what  I  set  him  about,  if  it  's  ever  so 
hard." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,"  continued  Crawford.  "  I  was 
pleased  yesterday  to  see  him  work  out  a  sum.  He 
could  n't  do  it  for  a  long  time,  and  he  asked  me  one 
or  two  questions  about  it,  and  I  answered  him,  and 
then  let  him  work.  He  tugged  away  at  it  until  he 
mastered  it,  and  a  happier  boy  I  never  saw." 

"  He  told  me  about  it  last  night,  for  he  studies 
his  arithmetic  every  night,  and  would  rather  keep  at 
it  than  to  go  to  bed,  generally." 

"  What  a  boy  !  "  continued  Mr.  Crawford.  "  He 
ought  to  have  a  better  chance  than  a  backwoods  life 
can  afford  him.  And  he  seems  to  be  as  good  as  he 
is  bright." 

"  Yes  ;  he  's  a  very  good  boy.  We  can't  expect 
boys  will  do  everything  right,  you  know ;  but  he  's 
good  to  mind,  generally.  His  mother  thinks  there 
never  was  such  a  boy,  to  obey  her."  And  this  last 
testimony  was  a  confirmation  of  what  we  have  said 
of  his  filial  love  and  obedience. 

"  I  was  struck  with  his  honesty  the  other  day," 
added  Mr.  Crawford.  "  I  saw  that  a  buck's  horn, 
that  was  nailed  up  on  the  back  side  of  our  house, 

K 


162  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

was  broken  off,  and  I  concluded  that  some  of  the 
boys  did  it.  So  I  asked  them  the  next  day,  when 
they  had  all  got  still,  who  of  them  broke  it,  and  Abe 
answered  promptly,  "  I  did  it." 

"  Just  like  him,"  said  his  father. 

"  I  said,  how  happened  that,  Abe  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  mean  to  do  it,"  he  replied.  "  I  hung 
on  it,  and  it  broke.  I  should  n't  have  done  it  if  I 
had  thought  it  would  break." 

"  I  dare  say  he  spoke  the  truth,"  said  his  father. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it ;  but  few  boys  would  own 
up  like  that.  Most  boys  would  try  to  conceal  what 
they  had  done,  and  would  n't  own  it  till  they  were 
obliged  to." 

"  That 's  so  ;  and  I  Ve  thought  that  it  might  be 
owing  a  little  to  the  Life  of  Washington  that  he 
read  some  time  ago.  He  seemed  to  think  a  sight 
of  his  owning  up  that  he  cut  the  cherry- tree  with  his 
new  hatchet ;  and  he  spoke  of  it  ever  so  many 
times." 

"  Well,  this  was  certainly  like  that,"  said  Mr. 
Crawford ;  "  and  I  took  occasion  to  say  that  it  was 
a  noble  trait  to  confess  a  wrong  that  was  done, 
instead  of  trying  to  conceal  it." 

"  He  never  was  disposed  to  conceal  his  wrong 
doings.  He  takes  all  the  blame  to  himself,  and 
don't  try  to  put  it  on  to  anybody  else." 

"  I  should  think  so ;  and  such  truthfulness  is 
worthy  of  all  praise,"  said  Mr.  Crawford. 


AT   SCHOOL   AGAIN.  163 

Whatever  Mr.  Lincoln  may  have  thought  about 
the  Life  of  Washington  influencing  his  boy,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  such  an  exhibition  of  character 
as  the  above  was  the  fruit  of  maternal  instruction. 
The  reader  will  remember  those  Sabbath  lessons  of 
which  we  spoke,  when  the  Bible  was  made  the  text 
book  at  the  fireside,  and  the  ninth  commandment 
was  impressed  upon  the  mind  of  Abraham  with 
seriousness.  That  was  the  time,  doubtless,  when 
truthfulness  as  a  principle  of  action  was  rooted  in 
his  soul. 

One  day,  on  returning  from  school,  his  father 
said  to  him :  "  I  've  seen  Mr.  Wood  to-day,  and 
ho  wants  you  should  write  a  letter  for  him  to 
send  'way  off  to  Massachusetts.  He  Js  got  friends 
there." 

"  When  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  To-night  he  '11  be  over  here,  and  tell  you  what 
he  wants  to  have  you  write." 

"  Then  I  '11  study  my  arithmetic  before  he  comes. 
It 's  real  hard  now." 

"  So  much  the  better,  if  you  can  master  it." 

"  So  Mr.  Crawford  says." 

"  Yes ;  I  know  what  he  thinks,  for  I  have  talked 
with  him  about  it.  He  knows  what  is  best  for  you 
and  all  the  rest  of  the  boys.  But  you  must  go  at 
your  lesson,  if  you  mean  to  study  before  Mr.  Wood 
comes." 

Winter  had  now  set  in,  and  the  cold  was  quite 


164  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

severe.  An  extra  fire  was  made  up  for  the  evening 
by  piling  on  huge  logs.  The  reader  will  recollect 
that  we  said  lamps  were  out  of  the  question  with  the 
poor  settlers.  Nor  were  they  needed,  since  a  large 
fire  of  logs,  four  feet  in  length,  would  light  up  the 
cabin  better  than  a  dozen  lamps.  On  the  evening 
in  question  the  log-house  was  filled  with  a  blaze  of 
light  from  the  fire,  to  enable  Abraham  to  write  the 
aforesaid  letter  with  ease. 

Thus  his  acquisitions  were  brought  into  use  at 
once,  particularly  his  skill  in  the  art  of  penmanship. 
As  we  have  said  before,  he  wrote  letters  for  the 
neighborhood.  He  became  the  scribe  of  a  number 
of  families,  and  made  himself  extremely  useful. 
He  received  his  own  reward,  too,  in  the  facility 
which  it  afforded  him  to  express  his  thoughts  in 
after  years.  Says  another  of  him,  in  this  particu 
lar :  "  That  he  was  selected  for  this  purpose  was 
doubtless  owing  not  more  to  his  proficiency  in  writ 
ing  than  to  his  ability  to  express  the  wishes  and 
feelings  of  those  for  whom  he  wrote  in  clear  and 
forcible  language,  and  to  that  obliging  disposition 
that  has  always  distinguished  him  in  subsequent 
life.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  something  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  style  and  facility  of  composition  in  later 
years,  both  as  a  writer  and  speaker,  is  to  be  traced 
back  to  these  earlier  efforts  as  an  amanuensis  for 
the  neighborhood." 


XIV. 

STILL  AT  SCHOOL, 

« ~\7"OU  'LL  keep  on  at  school,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln 

JL  to  him.  "I  've  seen  Mr.  Crawford,  and 
you  '11  go  awhile  longer."  He  had  been  to  school 
eight  or  ten  weeks  at  that  time. 

"  I  'm  glad  of  that,"  said  Abraham  ;  "  I  want  to 
keep  on  with  my  arithmetic,  and  Mr.  Crawford 
wants  to  have  me." 

"  Well,  the  matter  is  fixed,  and  you  '11  go.  In 
the  spring  I  shall  want  your  help,  and  then  you  '11 
have  to  stop." 

"  How  long  will  it  be  before  that  ?  " 

"  Only  a  few  weeks,  and  you  must  make  the  most 
of  it." 

"  Perhaps  this  will  be  your  last  opportunity,"  said 
his  mother,  who  stood  by. 

"  More  'n  as  likely  as  not,"  added  his  father. 
"  And  you  '11  soon  know  as  much  about  'rithmetic 
as  Mr.  Crawford  ;  and  as  to  writin'  and  readin',  I 
s'pose  you  're  as  well  off  as  he  is  now." 

"  But,  Abe,  I  want  you  should  go  to  Mr.  Neale's 
for  me  to-morrow  morning,  before  you  go  to  school," 
said  his  mother. 


166  THE   PIOXEER   BOY 

"  What  for  ?  " 

"  I  '11  tell  you  when  you  get  ready  to  go.  I 
sha'n't  want  you  to  go  if  it  rains.  It  looks  some 
like  raining." 

"  We  boys  were  going  to  school  early  to-morrow, 
to  have  a  play,'*  he  said,  thus  intimating  that  going 
upon  an  errand  for  her  would  interfere  essentially 
with  his  plans. 

"  You  will  have  times  enough  for  play." 

"  Yes ;  but  to-morrow  morning  we  agreed  to  all 
come  early  to  school,,  and  the  boys  will  all  go." 

"  Well,  you  can  go  if  you  want  to  very  much.  I 
suppose  that  your  play  is  more  important  than  my 
business  "  ;  and  this  was  said  in  a  tone  that  indi 
cated  rebuke.  Abraham  received  it  in  that  light. 

"  No  it  ain't,  mother,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  go  to 
Mr.  Neale's  for  you,  whether  I  play  any  or  not." 

"But  the  boys  will  be  disappointed,  you  say?" 
and  her  tone  indicated  her  meaning. 

"  That  's  no  matter.  I  shall  do  what  you  want 
to  have  me  first,  whether  they  like  it  or  not,  I  shall 
go  to  Mr.  Neale's  for  you  in  the  morning."  This 
was  said  with  cheerfulness,  as  if  he  did  not  regret 
leaving  his  sports  to  obey  his  mother,  nor  was  it  a 
solitary  instance.  It  was  not  uncommon  for  him  to 
forego  personal  pleasure  to  gratify  his  parents.  He 
was  reared  to  do  this.  It  was  a  part  of  that  domes 
tic  culture  to  which  he  was  subjected  from  his 
youth.  He  did  it  as  a  matter  of  course.  He  sel- 


STILL   AT    SCHOOL.  167 

dom  manifested  any  of  that  sulkiness  and  rebellious 
spirit  that  is  so  common  among  boys  when  required 
to  lay  aside  their  plays  for  work.  The  command  of 
his  parents  was  high  authority  to  him. 

The  morning  dawned,  and  the  errand  was  per 
formed  before  going  to  school.  As  it  turned  out, 
however,  he  reached  Mr.  Crawford's  house  as  soon 
as  David  Turnham,  whom  he  overtook  on  his  way. 
Obedience  had  not  put  him  behindhand.  It  made 
him  a  little  smarter  than  usual,  so  that  he  accom 
plished  much  in  a  little  time.  This  is  usually  the 
case,  as  many  facts  prove. 

"  Hallo,  David !  I  thought  I  should  be  the  last  one 
there,"  exclaimed  Abraham,  as  he  came  in  sight  of 
his  playmate. 

"  If  you  was  the  last  one  there,  it  would  be  the 
first  time,"  was  David's  reply.  "  You  are  always 
on  hand."  And  that  was  true.  He  was  generally 
punctual  on  all  occasions. 

"  I  had  to  go  to  Mr.  Neale's  first  this  morning,  or 
I  should  have  been  along  before." 

"  We  are  soon  enough  now." 

"  What  are  the  boys  up  to  there  ?  "  asked  Abra 
ham,  looking  up  as  they  drew  near  Mr.  Crawford's, 
and  seeing  the  scholars  huddled  together,  as  if  in 
tent  on  something. 

"  Sure  enough  !  "  was  all  David  replied. 

Coming  up  to  the  boys,  they  found  a  toad  in  the 
circle,  with  which  they  were  amusing  themselves. 


168  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Don't,"  exclaimed  Abraham,  as  one  of  the  boys 
poked  him  with  a  stick. 

"  Don't  what  ?  "  answered  the  lad,  as  with  a 
punch  he  knocked  the  toad  over. 

"  Don't  treat  him  so,"  said  Abraham.  "  How 
would  you  like  to  be  poked  about  with  a  stick  like 
that  ?  " 

"  Try  it,  and  see." 

"  Well,  it  is  cruel  to  treat  him  so,"  added  Abra 
ham. 

"  Why,  it 's  nothin'  but  a  toad." 

"  Don't  toads  have  feeling  ?  "  asked  Abraham. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  they  do  or  not,"  answered 
the  boy,  giving  the  animal  another  thrust. 

"  You  sha'n't  do  so,"  said  Abraham,  taking  hold 
of  the  boy's  arm. 

"You're  a  chicken-hearted  feller,  Abe,  as  ever 
lived.  I  should  think  the  toad  was  your  brother." 

"  Whether  it  is  or  not,  there  's  no  use  in  abusing 
it." 

"  That 's  it,"  said  David,  who  stood  looking  on  ; 
"  I  go  in  for  Abe.  He  would  n't  hurt  a  fly." 

"He  would  if  he  trod  on  one,"' answered  one  of 
the  number. 

"He  wouldn't  tread  on  one  a  purpose,"  said  Da 
vid.  A  very  true  remark,  for  Abraham  was  known 
for  his  tenderness  to  animals.  He  could  kill  game 
for  food  as  a  necessity,  and  dangerous  wild  animals, 
but  his  soul  shrunk  from  torturing  even  a  fly. 


STILL   AT    SCHOOL.  1G9 

Mr.  Crawford  had  witnessed  a  part  of  this  scene 
from  his  cabin,  and  he  came  out  at  this  stage  of  the 
affair,  and  rebuked  the  cruelty  of  the  boys  who  were 
torturing  the  toad,  while  he  commended  Abraham 
for  his  tenderness.  It  was  an  additional  act  to 
exalt  the  latter  in  his  estimation. 

"  We  are  coming  to  the  Rule  of  Three  now," 
said  Mr.  Crawford  to  Abraham,  "  and  that  will  be 
all  you  can  learn  of  me." 

"  Is  it  hard  ?  "  asked  the  boy. 

"  It  won't  be  for  you.  I  think  you  can  get  through 
it  by  the  time  your  father  wants  you  this  spring." 

"  Why  is  it  called  the  Rule  of  Three  ?  " 

"I  hardly  know.  Some  call  it  Simple  Propor 
tion,  and  that  is  the  true  name  for  it.  You  will  see 
a  reason  for  it,  too,  when  you  come  to  master  it." 

"  What  if  I  don't  master  it  ?  " 

"  I  '11  risk  you  on  that.  It  won't  be  of  so  much 
use  to  you  as  what  you  have  been  over  already. 
Some  people  don't  study  it." 

"  My  father  never  studied  arithmetic,"  said  Abra 
ham. 

"  Nor  mine.  Not  half  the  folks  about  here  have 
studied  it." 

"  Father  never  had  a  chance  to  study  it  when  ho 
was  a  boy. 

"  That 's  the  case  with  a  good  many." 

"  Well,  I  can  cipher  now  in  Addition,  Subtrac 
tion,  Multiplication,  and  Division." 


THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

"  Yes,  you  understand  those  rules  well,  and  you 
will  always  find  use  for  them." 

So,  encouraged  by  his  instructor,  who  was  a  man 
of  good  sense,  Abraham  grappled  with  the  so-called 
"  Rule  of  Three."  It  was  somewhat  more  difficult 
for  him  to  comprehend  this  rule  than  it  was  the 
previous  ones  ;  yet  he  was  not  discouraged.  His 
discriminating  mind  and  patient  labor  did  the  work 
for  him,  and  he  enjoyed  the  happiness  of  under 
standing  Proportion  by  the  time  his  school-days 
were  over.  We  do  not  mean  that  he  comprehended 
it  fully,  so  as  to  be  complete  master  of  it,  but  he 
understood  it,  as  we  are  wont  to  say  that  pupils 
understand  the  rules  they  have  been  over  at  school. 
At  least,  he  made  such  progress  that  he  was  pre 
pared  to  become  master  of  all  the  rules  he  had 
studied,  by  devoting  his  leisure  moments  to  them 
thereafter. 

We  must  stop  here  to  relate  one  more  incident 
of  these  school-days,  because  it  illustrates  a  trait 
of  character  for  which  Abraham  was  well  known  in 
his  youth.  We  often  find  the  key  to  a  boy's  char 
acter  by  observing  his  intercourse  with  companions 
at  school. 

It  was  near  the  end  of  his  term  of  school  at 
Mr.  Crawford's  house.  Several  boys  were  on  their 
way  home  at  the  close  of  school  in  company  with 
Abraham,  when  a  difficulty  arose  between  two  of 
them  about  spelling  a  word. 


STILL   AT   SCHOOL.  171 

"  You  did  n't  spell  it  right,"  said  J.ohn. 

"Yes  I  did  spell  it  right,"  replied  Daniel.  "I 
spelt  it  just  as  Mr.  Crawford  did." 

"  He  said  you  did  n't  spell  it  so." 

"I  know  he  said  so,  but  he  didn't  understand 
me.  I  spelt  it  just  as  he  did." 

"  I  know  you  did  n't,"  continued  John. 

"  And  I  know  I  did,"  retorted  Daniel.  "  You 
are  a  liar,  if  you  say  so." 

"  Don't  call  me  a  liar  !  "  exclaimed  John,  doub 
ling  up  his  fist.  "  You  '11  get  it,  if  you  say  that 
again !  " 

"  I  stump  you  to  do  it,  old  madpiece  !  "  said  Dan 
iel,  putting  himself  into  an  attitude  of  defiance. 

"  Come,  Dan,  don't,"  said  Abraham,  throwing 
one  of  his  arms  over  his  neck. 

"  Let  him  come,  if  he  wants  to,"  said  John,  in  a 
great  rage ;  u  I  '11  give  it  to  him :  he 's  a  great 
coward." 

"  What 's  the  use,  John  ?  "  answered  Abraham, 
throwing  his  other  arm  around  John's  shoulders, 
so  as  to  bring  himself  between  the  two  wrathy 
boys ;  "  that  ain't  worth  fighting  about." 

"  Yes  it  is,  too,"  answered  John.  "  You  would  n't 
be  called  a  liar  by  anybody  I  know,  and  I  won't 
nuther."  Abraham  was  now  walking  along  be 
tween  the  two  boys,  with  his  arms  over  their 
shoulders. 

"  Yes  I  would,  too  ;  arid  I  should  n't  care  neither, 
if  it  wasn't  true." 


172  THE   PIONEER   BOY 

"  Nobody  would  think  of  calling  you  a  liar," 
added  John. 

"  They  would  n't  call  you  so,  if  you  did  n't  caro 
anything  about  it,"  answered  Abraham ;  and  there 
was  much  truth  in  the  remark. 

By  this  time  the  two  combatants  had  cooled  off 
considerably,  and  Daniel  put  out  the  last  spark  of 
fire  by  adding,  "I'll  take  it  back,  John." 

"  That 's  a  good  fellow,"  said  Abraham,  while 
John  was  mute.  Five  minutes  thereafter  the  two 
vexed  boys  were  on  good  terms,  their  difficulties 
having  been  adjusted  by  Abraham,  "  the  peace 
maker,"  as  he  was  often  called.  He  could  not 
endure  to  see  broils  among  his  companions,  and  he 
often  taxed  all  his  kind  feelings  and  ingenuity  to 
settle  them.  This  trait  of  character  has  been  prom 
inent  through  all  his  life.  And  last,  though  not 
least,  we  had  an  exhibition  of  it,  when,  at  the  out 
break  of  the  rebellion  in  18G1,  he  put  his  arms 
around  the  neck  of  both  North  and  South,  and 
attempted  to  reconcile  them.  But  his  effort  proved 
less  successful  than  it  did  .in  the  case  of  John  and 
Daniel ;  for  the  Southern  combatant  was  too  far 
gone  with  madness  to  be  persuaded. 

With  his  knowledge  of  the  Rule  of  Three 
closed  Abraham's  school-days.  He  never  attended 
school  more  after  going  to  Mr.  Crawford.  In  all, 
he  did  not  go  to  school  more  than  six  months  in 
his  life,  and  then  he  was  under  the  charge  of 


STILL  AT  SCHOOL.  173 

toachers  so  ignorant  that  they  would  not  now  be 
tolerated. 

It  should  have  been  stated  before,  that,  near  the 
close  of  Mr.  Crawford's  school,  Abraham's  mother 
bought  him  a  second-hand  Life  of  Henry  Clay,  and 
it  was  to  him  a  deeply  interesting  work.  He  read 
it  over  and  over,  and  commented  upon  the  charac 
ter  of  Clay ;  and  he  grew  up  an  admirer  of  "  Old 
Harry  of  the  West."  There  appears  to  have  been 
some  connection  between  that  volume  —  the  Life  of 
Clay  —  and  his  political  connections  in  after  life,  as 
he  was  ever  known  as  a  u  Clay  Whig."  Thus  it  is 
that  a  single  book  may  decide  the  political  course 
of  the  reader  through  life. 

Nearly  two  years  after,  he  came  into  possession 
of  a  second  Life  of  Washington  in  a  manner  so 
interesting,  that  we  shall  give  a  full  account  of 
it  in  the  next  chapter.  His  experience,  in  the 
mean  time,  continued  to  flow  on  in  about  the  same 
way,  so  that  we  have  no  need  of  dwelling  upon  it ; 
and  therefore  we  shall  proceed  to  narrate  the  afore 
said  affair,  that  the  reader  may  see  the  elements 
of  character  appearing  therein. 


XV. 

A  TEIAL  AND  TEEASUEE. 

"  nHHE  greatest  man  that  ever  lived  !  "  said  Abra- 
JL    ham,  as  he  sat  upon  a  log  in  the  woods,  con 
versing  with  David  Turnham.     "  This  country  has 

a  right  to  be  proud  of  Washington." 

"  That  is  your  opinion ;  but  I  guess  the  British 

won't  say  so,"  answered  David. 

"  And  that  is  just  because  they  were  whipped  by 

him  ;  and  they  don't  want  to  own  up." 

"  How  do  you  know  so  much  about  Washington, 

Abe  ? " 

"  Because  I  have  read  about  him,  and  I  always 

heard  that  he  made  the  red-coats  run  for  life." 
"  Who  do  you  mean  by  the  red-coats  ?  " 
"  Why,  the  British,  to  be  sure.    They  were  called 

*  red-coats,'  because  they  wore  coats  of  that  color. 

I  expect  that  they  looked  splendidly,  though  they 

did  n't  feel  very  splendidly,  I  guess,  after  they  got 

whipped." 

"  Have  you  read  the  Life  of  Washington  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  have,  a  good  while  ago.      I  read 

Weem's  Life  of  Washington,  and  that  shows  that  he 

was  the  greatest  man  who  ever  lived." 


A    TRIAL   AND    TREASURE.  175 

"  Is  that  like  the  one  Mr.  Crawford  has  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  know  that  Mr,  Crawford  had  a  Life  of 
Washington."  He  did  not  see  it  when  he  went  to 
his  school. 

"  Well,  he  has  ;  for  I  heard  him  talking  with 
father  ahout  it." 

"  How  long  ago  ?  " 

"  Not  more  than  two  or  three  weeks  ago." 

"  You  don't  know  the  name  of  the  author  ? 
There  are  Lives  of  Washington  written  by  different 
men." 

"  I  don't  remember  who  rote  this.  I  did  n't 
mind  much  about  what  they  were  saying." 

"  I  can  find  out,"  added  Abraham  ;  and  he  did 
find  out.  He  embraced  the  first  opportunity  to 
inquire  of  a  neighbor,  and  learned  that  it  was 
Ramsay's  Life  of  Washington  that  Mr.  Crawford 
owned. 

"  Can  I  borrow  it  ?  "  he  inquired  of  his  parents, 
for  he  was  very  anxious  to  read  it. 

"  Perhaps  he  won't  like  to  lend  it,"  answered 
his  mother. 

"  I  shall  find  that  out  when  I  ask  him,"  said 
Abraham. 

"  And  you  should  tell  him  that  you  will  not  take 
it  unless  he  is  perfectly  willing  to  let  you  have  it." 

"  Then  I  may  ask  him,  may  I  ?  " 

"  If  you  are  very  desirous  to  read  it." 

"  Well,  I  am,  and  I  will  go  there  to-night  when 
I  get  through  work." 


176  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

Abraham  was  elated  with  the  idea  of  getting  hold 
of  this  new  work.  He  viewed  the  character  of 
Washington  with  admiration,  and  he  would  know 
what  different  biographers  said  of  him.  He  was 
not  a  little  impatient  for  his  day's  work  to  be  done. 
He  toiled  as  usual,  however,  with  a  good  degree  of 
interest  in  his  work,  until  night,  when  he  prepared 
himself  to  call  on  Mr.  Crawford. 

The  family  gave  him  a  cordial  welcome,  and  Mr.s. 
Crawford  said :  "  I  wonder  what  lias  brought  you 
out  to-night.  I  have  n't  seen  you  here  for  a  long 
time." 

"  Perhaps  you  won't  be  so  glad  to  see  me  after 
you  learn  what  I  came  for,"  replied  Abraham. 

"  And  what  did  you  come  for,  that  makes  you 
think  so  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Crawford. 

"  I  came  to  borrow  a  book." 

"A  book,  hey!  That  is  a  good  errand,  I  am 
sure." 

"  But  I  did  not  know  as  you  would  be  willing  to 
lend  it." 

"  What  book  is  it  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Crawford.  "  I 
have  no  doubt  that  I  can  accommodate,  you." 

"  It  is  Ramsay's  Life  of  Washington.  I  was  told 
that  you  had  it,  and  I  want  to  read  it." 

"  I  wish  all  the  boys  wanted  to  read  it,"  said  Mr. 
Crawford.  "  I  will  lend  it  to  you,  Abe,  with  great 
pleasure.  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  like  to  read." 

"  I  will  not  take  it  unless  you  are  perfectly  will 
ing  to  lend  it,"  said  Abraham. 


A   TRIAL   AND   TREASURE.  177 

"  If  I  did  not  want  you  should  have  it,  I  should 
tell  you  so.  I  am  not  one  of  those  persons  who  is 
afraid  to  tell  what  ho  thinks.  I  am  glad  that  T 
have  the  book  to  lend  you." 

"  I  will  take  good  care  of  it,  and  return  it  to  you 
all  safe,"  responded  Abraham.  This  was  just  like 
him.  So  considerate  a  boy  would  not  ask  the  loan 
of  a  book  without  some  diffidence,  and  when  it  is 
borrowed,  he  would  feel  that  great  care  must  be 
used  to  preserve  it.  He  valued  the  few  books  which 
he  himself  possessed  so  highly,  as  to  lead  him  to 
think  that  other  people  held  their  volumes  in  equal 
estimation.  It  was  really  an  excellent  trait  of  char 
acter  that  caused  him  to  use  so  much  discretion  in 
borrowing  books.  For  the  borrowing  of  this  single 
article  has  been  the  occasion  of  much  trouble  in 
neighborhoods.  In  consequence  of  thoughtlessness 
and  less  regard  for  the  interests  of  others  than  their 
own,  many  persons  have  borrowed  books  and  never 
returned  them,  or  else  returned  them  in  a  much 
worse  condition  than  when  they  were  received. 
Frequently  books  arc  lost  in  this  way  from  Sab 
bath-school  and  other  libraries.  Borrowers  do  not 
return  them.  They  think  so  little  of  their  obliga 
tions,  that  the  books  are  forgotten  and  lost.  Book- 
borrowers  are  very  apt  to  be  negligent,  so  tha.t  when 
we  see  a  lad  so  particular  as  Abraham  was,  it  is 
yorth  while  to  take  note  of  the  fact. 

"  It  will  take  me  some  time  to  read  so  large  a 

8*  I. 


175  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

work,"  said  he,  as  he  took  it  from  Mr.  Crawford. 
"  Perhaps  you  will  want  it  before  I  get  through 
with  it." 

"  0  no ;  you  are  such  a  great  reader  that  you 
will  finish  it  in  short  metre.  Keep  it  as  long  as 
you  want  it,  and  I  shall  be  suited." 

"  I  thank  you,"  Abraham  replied,  as  he  arose  to 
leave.  "  Good  night." 

"  Good  night,"   several  voices  responded. 

It  was  a  very  joyful  evening  to  Abraham  as  he 
bore  that  Life  of  Washington  home,  and  sat  down 
about  the  middle  of  the  evening  to  read  the  first 
chapter  therein. 

"  Keep  it  nice,"  said  his  mother.  "  Remember 
that  it  is  a  borrowed  book." 

"  I  will  try,"  he  replied.  "  Mr.  Crawford  was 
perfectly  willing  to  lend  it,  and  I  shall  be  none  the 
less  careful  on  that  account." 

Those  were  pleasant  hours  of  leisure  that  he  de 
voted  to  reading  Ramsay's  Life  of  Washington. 
Every  evening,  after  his  day's  labor  was  completed, 
he  read  the  work  witli  absorbing  interest,  and  at 
other  times  when  he  could  find  a  spare  moment  it 
was  in  his  hand.  He  had  nearly  completed  it,  when 
•the  following  mishap  caused  him  many  unpleasant 
thoughts  and  feelings. 

A  driving  storm  was  raging,  so  that  he  could 
perform  little  labor  except  what  could  be  done  un 
der  cover.  Of  course  his  book  was  in  his  hand 


A    TRIAL    AND    TREASURE.  179 

much  of  the  time,  and  the  whole  of  the  dreary 
evening,  to  a  late  hour,  it  was  his  companion.  On 
going  to  bed,  he  laid  it  down  directly  under  a  largo 
crack  between  the  logs,  and  the  wind  changing  in 
the  course  of  the  night,  the  rain  was  driven  into  the 
house,  and  the  book  was  wet  through.  The  first 
sight  that  met  Abraham's  eye  in  the  morning  was 
the  drenched  book,  and  his  feelings  can  be  better 
imagined  than  described. 

"  0  dear ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  That  book  is 
spoiled ! "  *  And  he  could  scarcely  restrain  the 
tears  that  welled  up  to  his  eyes. 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  lay  it  there  ?  "  asked 
his  mother. 

"  I  never  thought  about  its  raining  in  there. 
But  only  look  at  it !  it  is  completely  soaked !  " 
and  lie  lifted  it  up  carefully  to  show  his  mother. 

"  0,  I  am  so  sorry !   it  is  ruined  !  "   she  said. 

"  I  can  dry  it,"  answered  Abraham,  "  but  that 
will  not  leave  it  decent.  See  !  the  cover  will  drop 
off,  and  there  is  no  help  for  it.  What  will  Mr. 
Crawford  say  ?  I  told  him  that  I  would  keep  it 
very  carefully,  and  return  it  to  him  uninjured.'* 

"  Well,  it  is  done,  and  can't  be  helped  now," 
added  his  mother ;  u  and  I  have  no  doubt  that 
you  can  fix  it  with  Mr.  Crawford." 

"  I  have  no  money  to  pay  him  for  it,  and  I  don't 
see  how  1  can  make  it  good  to  him." 

"  Perhaps  he  can  suggest  a  way,"  said  his  mother. 


180  THE  rioxEER  BO*. 

"  He  ought  to  be  paid  for  it." 

"  Of  course  lie  had,  and  he  may  want  you  to  do 
some  work  for  him,  which  will  be  the  same  as 
money  to  him.  You  'd  better  take  the  book  to 
him  to-day,  and  see  what  you  can  do." 

"  I  am  almost  ashamed  to  go.  He  will  think 
that  I  am  a  careless  fellow." 

"  Never  be  ashamed  to  do  right,  my  son." 

"  I  am  not  ashamed  to  do  right.  I  was  only  say 
ing  how  I  felt.  I  told  him  that  I  would  keep  it 
nicely." 

"  And  so  you  meant  to  ;  but  accidents  will  happen 
sometimes,  if  we  are  careful." 

"  He  shall  be  paid  for  it  somehow,"  continued 
Abraham.  "  I  will  see  him  to-day." 

The  volume  was  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  fire 
that  day,  and  when  Abraham  was  ready  to  go  to 
Mr.  Crawford's  in  the  evening,  it  was  dry  enough 
for  transportation.  The  storm  had  passed  away, 
and  the  stars  were  looking  down  from  the  skies, 
as  he  took  the  book,  carefully  wrapped  in  a  cotton 
handkerchief,  and  proceeded  to  Mr.  Crawford's. 
His  heart  was  heavy  and  sad,  and  he  dreaded  to 
open  the  subject  to  him. 

"  Good  evening,  Abe !  Got  through  with  the 
book  so  quick  ?  "  said  Mr.  Crawford. 

"  Good  evening,"  responded  Abraham,  in  his 
usual  manly  way.  "  I  have  brought  the  book  back, 
although  I  have  not  finished  it." 


A   TRIAL   AND   TREASURE.  181 

"  Keep  it,  then,  keep  it,  then,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Crawford,  before  the  lad  could  tell  his  story.  "  I 
told  you  to  keep  it  as  long  as  you  wanted  it." 

"  Perhaps  you  won't  want  I  should  keep  it  longer 
when  you  hear  what  has  happened  to  it."  And  ho 
proceeded  to  untie  the  handkerchief  in  which  it 
was  wrapped. 

"  I  should  think  you  had  a  lot  of  jewels  there 
by  the  manner  you  carry  it,"  said  Mr.  Crawford, 
smiling. 

"There,"  said  Abraham,  taking  out  the  book, 
u  it  is  ruined.  I  laid  it  down  last  night  where  the 
rain  beat  in  and  wet  it  through,  and  it  is  spoiled. 
1  am  very  sorry,  indeed,  and  want  to  pay  you  for  it 
in  some  way." 

"  Pretty  well  used  up,"  said  Mr.  Crawford,  taking 
up  the  book.  "  Yes,  I  see  that  it  is  a  little  worse 
for  the  wear.  And  you  hadn't  read  it  through?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  had  some  forty  or  fifty  pages  more 
to  read." 

"  You  can  read  that  yet :  there  is  enough  left 
of  it  for  that,"  and  Mr.  Crawford  showed  by  his 
jovial  air  that  he  did  not  feel  so  badly  as  the*  bor 
rower  did. 

"  But  now  I  have  ruined  the  book,  I  want  to  pay 
you  for  it  in  some  way.  Have  you  any  work  for 
me  to  do  ?  " 

"  Plenty  of  it :  always  have  work  enough  on 
hand  for  two  or  three  smart  fellows  to  do." 


182  THE  PIONEER 


"  How  much  was  the  book  worth  ?  "  asked  Abra 
ham. 

"  I  hardly  know.  Do  you  want  to  pay  me  the 
full  value  of  it,  and  keep  it  for  your  own." 

"  Yes,  I  should  like  that,  though  I  had  not 
thought  of  that  way." 

"  Well,  what  kind  of  work  do  you  want  to  do  ?  " 

"  Anything  that  I  can  do  to  suit  you." 

"  Well,  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Abe,  I  'm  in  great 
trouble  about  my  corn.  You  see  the  whole  of  my 
corn  has  been  stripped  of  the  blades  as  high  as  the 
ear,  and  is  now  all  ready  to  have  the  tops  cut  off 
for  winter  fodder  ;  but  my  hands  are  full  of  other 
work,  and  how  it  is  to  be  done  is  more  than  I  can 
tell.  Now  if  you  can  help  me  out  of  this  scrape, 
we  can  square  the  account  about  the  book.  What 
do  you  say  to  that  ?  " 

"  I  say  that  I  am  willing  to  do  that,  or  anything 
else  that  suits  you." 

"  You  are  very  accommodating,  but  you  won't 
lose  anything  on  that  account.  How  much  of  my 
field  of  corn  will  you  cut,  and  keep  the  book  for 
your  own  ?  " 

"  You  mean  the  field  of  corn  over  yonder  ?  " 
pointing  to  the  eastward. 

"  Yes,  you  know  just  where  it  is.  That  is  all  the 
corn  I  have." 

"  I  will  cut  the  whole  of  it  for  the  book,"  replied 
Abraham,  as  if  conscious  that  it  was  a  magnanimous 
offer  to  repair  the  damage  he  had  done. 


A   TRIAL   AND    TREASURE.  183 

"  Agreed,"  answered  Mr.  Crawford  ;  "  and  a  very 
generous  offer,  too.  I  will  not  require  you  to  do  so 
much  for  the  book,  unless  you  choose  to  do  it." 

"  I  choose  to  do  it." 

"  When  will  you  begin  ?  " 

"  To-morrow  morning ;  the  sooner  I  pay  for  the 
book,  the  better." 

"  Come  on,  then,  bright  and  early,  and  the  book 
is  yours." 

Abraham  rose  to  go  out,  when  Mr.  Crawford 
said  :  u  You  may  take  the  book  to-night,  if  you 
wish." 

"  It  will  be  time  enough  to  take  the  book  when  I 
have  paid  for  it,"  replied  Abraham,  with  a  smile 
playing  over  his  face.  And  he  left  without  tak 
ing  it. 

After  he  had  gone,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crawford  dis 
cussed  the  matter  freely,  and  exchanged  views  re 
specting  the  character  of  the  boy,  as  they  often  did 
when  he  was  a  scholar  in  their  house. 

u  lie  is  one  of  a  thousand,"  said  Mrs.  Crawford ; 
"  so  honest  and  manly  !  " 

"  All  of  that,"  responded  her  husband.  "  It 
would  be  difficult  to  find  a  boy  of  his  age  who 
would  want  to  read  the  Life  of  Washington,  and 
much  more,  to  pay  for  it  by  hard  labor." 

"  That  is  a  fact,"  said  Mrs.  Crawford.  "  I  have 
often  thought  that  he  was  different  from  all  the  rest 
of  the  boys.  He  knows  so  much,  and  seems  alto 
gether  beyond  his  years  !  " 


184  THE  'PIONEER  BOY. 

"  A  great  comfort  to  his  father  and  mother," 
added  Mr.  Crawford,  yawning,  and  throwing  his 
head  back  in  his  chair  for  a  nap.  u  He  '11  make 
something,  if  he  lives." 

"  And  be  greatly  missed  if  he  don't  live,"  re 
sponded  his  wife.  "  His  father  thinks  a  deal  of 
him  ;  and  who  can  blame  him  for  it  ?  " 

Abraham  went  home  with  a  much  lighter  heart. 
The  injury  to  the  book  was  settled  without  impli 
cating  his  character  for  honesty  and  carefulness. 
Indeed,  it  was  settled  in  a  manner  that  rather  de 
veloped  the  noble  qualities  of  his  heart.  His  suc 
cess  was  announced  at  once  to  his  parents,  and  the 
arrangement  into  which  he  had  entered  to  pay  for 
the  book. 

"  Cheap  enough,"  said  his  father.  "  If  you  can 
make  good  such  an  injury  and  get  the  book,  too,  for 
three  or  four  days'  labor,  it  is  cheap." 

"  And  save  your  honor  and  character,  too,"  added 
his  mother.  "  That  is  worth  more  than  all." 

It  was  arranged  -that  Abraham  should  stop  with 
Mr.  Crawford  until  his  work  was  done,  and  the  next 
morning  he  took  an  early  start  to  fulfil  his  engage 
ment.  It  was  a  bright,  beautiful  autumnal  day,  and 
his  own  heart  was  in  sweet  harmony  with  nature 
around  him.  Never  did  a  toiler  enter  upon  the 
most  profitable  piece  of  labor  with  more  enthusiasm 
than  he  undertook  to  pay  for  the  injured  book. 

We  have  not  space  to  give  his  experience  at  Mr. 


A   TRIAL   AND   TREASURE.  185 

Crawford's  in  detail.  Suffice  to  say,  that  it  took 
him  just  three  days  to  cut  the  corn,  and  they  were 
three  days  of  very  hard  labor  most  cheerfully  per 
formed.  He  had  a  pleasant  time  in  the  family,  and 
their  views  of  his  character  were  more  glowing  than 
ever  at  the  end  of  the  time.  They  saw  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  in  him  which  they  had  overlooked 
before. 

When  the  work  was  done,  he  took  his  book  and 
carried  it  home  in  triumph.  It  was  to  him  one  of 
the  finest  acquisitions  he  had  made.  He  felt  rich. 
His  poverty  was  nothing.  His  humble  home  was  as 
bright  a  spot  as  the  Western  world  could  boast.  He 
had  no  money,  but  he  owned  another  book, —  Ram 
say's  Life  of  Washington,  —  and  that  was  enough. 
It  was  a  long-to-be-remembered  day  that  made  him 
the  happy  possessor  of  this  work. 

"  A  good  bargain  for  both  of  you,"  said  his  fa 
ther. 

"It  is  a  good  one  for  me,  I  am  certain  of  that," 
replied  Abraham. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  better  for  you  than  for  him,  be 
cause  you  are  young,  and  need  to  read  such  a  work 
for  information.  Every  boy  ought  to  know  all  about 
Washington,  the  '  Father  of  his  Country.'  You  are 
a  good  reader,  and  you  ought  to  be  thankful  for  it. 
It  is  very  hard  not  to  know  how  to  read.  I  would 
give  almost  anything  if  I  could  read  as  well  as  you 


186  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Learn  now,  father,"  replied  Abraham. 

"  It 's  hard  teaching  old  dogs  new  tricks,"  he  an 
swered  jocosely.  "  I  should  n't  make  much  head 
way  now,  I  reckon." 

"  '  Better  late  than  never,'  as  mother  says." 

"  Perhaps  so  ;  but  there  is  not  much  need  of  my 
learning  now,  as  you  can  read  to  me  all  I  want." 

"  You  won't  always  have  me  to  read  to  you." 

"  What 's  going  to  become  of  you  so  suddenly  ?  " 

"  I  shall  have  to  work  out  for  a  living,  and  it 
won't  be  long  neither  before  I  shall  be  able  to  do 
it." 

"  I  'm  glad  to  see  that  you  are  thinking  about  it. 
In  these  times  there  is  no  room  for  idlers.  In  fact, 
that  is  true  at  all  times  ;  God  helps  only  those  who 
help  themselves." 

"  Those  are  all  who  ought  to  be  helped,"  said 
Abraham. 

"  That  is  so  ;  and  I  hope  that  you  will  always 
have  such  industrious  habits  that  the  blessing  of 
God  will  rest  upon  you." 

The  reader  can  but  admire  the  true  manliness 
with  which  Abraham  settled  the  book  affair.  There 
was  no  attempt  to  evade  responsibility  in  the  matter, 
no  effort  at  concealment,  no  seeking  to  excuse  him 
self,  but  a  manly  statement  of  the  whole  affair,  with 
a  noble,  generous  offer  to  repair  the  injury  in  full. 
Many  boys  would  falter  in  such  circumstances,  and 
try  to  manufacture  some  defence  for  their  course, 


A   TRIAL   AND   TREASURE.  187 

and  be  totally  unwilling  to  labor  half  so  long  to 
square  an  account.  Such  manhood  and  upright 
ness  is  rare  in  boys  of  thirte^i  or  fourteen  years  of 
age.  His  prompt,  conscientious  course  is  an  exam 
ple  to  all  the  boys  of  our  land  who  would  win  a 
good  name  for  themselves,  and  share  the  approbation 
of  Heaven, 


XYI. 

EIGHTEEN  YEAES  OLD. 

WE  pass  to  Abraham's  eighteenth  birthday. 
He  was  as  tall  as  his  father,  and  much 
stronger.  He  had  labored  constantly  during  the 
four  years  and  more  that  had  elapsed  since  the 
affair  narrated  in  the  last  chapter  occurred.  Most 
of  the  time  he  had  used  the  axe,  cutting  wood  and 
splitting  rails.  Sometimes,  however,  he  had  labored 
a  day  or  two  at  a  time  farming  for  his  father  and 
others.  His  father  cultivated  but  a  small  farm,  as 
he  worked  some  at  his  trade,  —  that  of  a  carpen 
ter, —  so  that  Abraham  frequently  labored  for  others 
in  the  woods.  He  excelled  almost  every  one  in  the 
vicinity  in  the  skilful  use  of  the  axe,  and  hence  his 
labors  were  much  sought. 

This  sort  of  labor  developed  his  physical  powers 
wonderfully,  and  he  became  remarkable  for  his  en 
durance.  He  could  weary  out  nearly  every  man 
with  whom  he  worked. 

At  the  same  time,  he  had  not  neglected  his  mind. 
He  borrowed  books  wherever  he  could,  and  read 
and  re-read  them.  He  had  added  two  more  volumes 


EIGH1EEN   YEARS   OLD.  189 

to  his  own  possessions,  also,  and  these  were  the  Life 
of  Franklin  and  Plutarch's  Lives.  And  so  his  was 
not  an  inferior  library.  The  Bible,  Spelling-Book, 
^Esop's  Fables,  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Lives  of  Wash 
ington,  Clay,  and  Franklin,  together  with  Plutarch's 
Lives,  are  a  library  in  themselves  ;  just  the  books  to 
impress  an  active  mind  like  Abraham's,  and  develop 
its  strong  powers. 

II is  reputation  for  industry,  energy,  perseverance, 
and  honesty  was  fair  as  ever.  He  was  just  as  much 
devoted  to  his  parents  also  as  he  was  in  his  boy 
hood.  And  though  he  talked  much  of  going  away 
to  seek  his  fortune,  feeling  that  he  ought  to  do 
better  than  he  possibly  could  there,  yet  he  yielded 
to  the  expressed  desire  of  his  parents,  and  remained 
at  home. 

"  Such  was  Abraham,  and  his  condition,  about  the 
time  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  one  day, 
in  early  winter,  he  was  notified  of  a  house-raising 
some  six  miles  off.  A  new-comer  desired  to  get 
up  a  shelter  for  his  family  as  soon  as  possible.  It 
had  become  customary  for  the  settlers  to  turn  out 
on  such  occasions,  and  put  up  a  log-house  for  a 
man  in  a  few  hours.  They  sometimes  went  as  far 
as  ten  miles  to  house-raisings  and  log-rollings. 

"  You  must  go,  Abe,"  said  David.  "  Nobody 
can  lift  any  if  you  ain't  there." 

"  Father  has  made  all  his  arrangements  to  go 
to  market  to-morrow,  and  I  don't  know  as  I  can 
leave." 


190  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  Yes  you  can,"  said  his  father,  who  overheard 
him.  "  You  must  go  because  I  can't.  I  'm  afraid 
that  it  will  snow  soon,  and  I  must  go  to  market 
to-morrow  at  any  rate.  I'm- afraid  to  put  it  off 
another  day.  The  hogs  are  all  ready,  and  I  prom 
ised  them  at  this  time." 

Mr.  Lincoln  raised  many  hogs.  They  were  let 
loose  in  the  forests,  where  they  fattened  for  the 
market,  and  then  were  killed  and  carried  to  the 
nearest  market,  situated  on  a  creek,  eighteen  miles 
distant,  emptying  into  the  Ohio  River,  six  miles 
above  Rockport,  near  where  the  town  of  Grandview 
now  stands. 

"  I  should  like  to  go  to  the  raising,"  said  Abra 
ham ;  "but  I  didn't  know  that  you  would  think  it 
best,  as  you  was  going  off." 

"  That  makes  no  difference.  You  '11  get  back 
before  it 's  very  late.  If  I  don't  go  soon  to  market, 
Nichols  will  think  I  don't  keep  my  word." 

It  was  the  custom  with  the  settlers  to  carry  deer 
skins,  venison-hams,  and  various  kinds  of  furs  to 
market,  to  exchange  for  goods.  Frequently,  also, 
they  obtained  goods  on  credit,  and  promised  pork, 
to  be  delivered  late  in  the  fall  or  early  in  the  winter. 
This  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Lincoln.  He  had  prom 
ised  pork  to  pay  his  store-bill,  and  he  would  not 
disappoint  the  man.  He  had  some  furs  to  carry, 
also. 

"  Then  I  '11  go,  David,"  said  Abraham.  "  What 
time  will  you  start  ?  " 


EIGHTEEN    YEAKS    OLD.  191 

"  As  early  as  you  '11  come  along.  It  ain't  best  to 
keep  them  waiting,  and  they  '11  wait  till  you  get 
there."  This  last  remark  was  made  in  a  com 
plimentary  manner,  as  Abraham  was  regarded  a 
superior  hand  on  such  occasions,  because  of  his 
great  strength  and  readiness  to  do. 

"  I  understand  you,"  answered  Abraham.  "  1 
take  your  words  for  all  they  are  worth." 

"  And  that  ain't  much,  I  s'pose  you  '11  say," 
quickly  responded  David.  "  But  come  on  in  good 
season.  It's  something  of  a  walk  there?"  And 
he  left  for  home. 

On  the  next  day,  Mr.  Lincoln  started  with  his 
load  for  market,  and  Abraham  went  to  the  raising. 

We  would  say  here,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  carried  his 
pork  to  market  on  a  "  truck  wagon,"  drawn  by 
oxen.  It  was  made  by  sawing  wheels  off  a  log  two 
or  three  feet  in  diameter,  and,  having  cut  holes 
through  the  centre  of  the  wheels,  wooden  axles 
were  put  into  them  and  fastened  with  a  wooden 
linchpin.  Abraham  frequently  drove  this  team  to 
market. 

The  house-raising  affair  proved  to  be  a  pleasant 
thing.  There  was  a  general  attendance  of  the  set 
tlers,  and  the  usual  good  feeling  and  cheerfulness  in 
lending  a  helping  hand.  After  the  work  was  done, 
there  was  a  mutual  exchange  of  friendly  greetings, 
according  to  the  custom  of  those  times,  and  various 
amusements  were  enjqyed.  On  this  account  it  was 


192  THE   PIOXEKR    BOY. 

far  into  the  evening  when  the  younger  portion  of 
the  company  separated  for  home. 

Abraham,  together  with  three  or  four  companions, 
was  returning,  and  had  come  within  two  miles  of 
his  home,  when  their  progress  was  arrested  by  an 
unusual  scene. 

"  What 's  this  ?  "  cried  David,  just  descrying  some 
object  before  him.  "  Somebody's  horse  here  !  " 

"  Yes  ;  and  there  's  his  rider  in  the  ditch,"  said 
Abraham,  discovering  a  man  lying  in  the  mud  and 
water. 

"  Who  is  it  ?  "  asked  David,  under  great  excite 
ment.  "  Thrown  off?  "  He  supposed  that  an  un 
ruly  horse  had  thrown  his  rider. 

"  No,"  replied  Abraham,  "  more  likely  he  fell  off. 
The  horse  wouldn't  be  standing  here  if  he  was 
ugly,  and  had  thrown  him.  Let 's  see  who  it  is." 
And  he  proceeded  to  pull  him  into  the  road,  where 
they  could  have  a  view  of  his  face. 

"  He  's  drunk,"  said  David,  who  began  to  suspect 
the  cause  of  his  being  in  the  gutter. 

"  He  's  drunk  or  dead,  —  there  's  no  doubt  about 
that,"  added  Abraham.  "He  would  n't  go  to  bed 
there,  if  he  knew  what  he  was  about." 

"  It  is  old  Myers,  ain't  it  ?  "  suggested  one  of  the 
boys,  getting  a  better  view  of  his  face.  "  It  looks 
like  him." 

"  Sure  enough,  it  is,"  replied  Abraham  ;  "  and 
that's  his  old  horse.  I've  seen  it  forty  times. 


EIGHTEEN   YEARS   OLD.  193 

He's  drunk  as  he  can  be.  He  ain't  dead,  if  it's 
him.  You  can't  kill  him  so  easy." 

"  And  his  old  horse  is  used  to  waiting  for  him  on 
such  occasions,"  said  David.  "  But  how  do  you 
suppose  he  came  'way  off  here  at  this  time  of  night. 
It 's  fifteen  miles  or  more  to  his  house." 

"  Before  we  find  that  out,  we  better  see  whether 
he  is  frozen  or  not,"  said  Abraham.  "  His  clothes 
are  stiff  as  they  can  be." 

"  If  he  ain't  frozen  now,  he  would  be  before 
mornin',"  added  another  boy.  "  Lucky  for  him 
that  we  came  along." 

The  man  proved  to  be  Myers,  who  was  an  in 
temperate  person  living  fifteen  or  sixteen  miles 
distant ;  and  he  had  fallen  from  his  horse  in  a 
state  of  beastly  intoxication. 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  him  ?  "  asked  David. 

"  There 's  only  one  thing  to  do  with  him,"  an 
swered  Abraham.  "  We  must  carry  him  over  to  Mr. 
Dale's."  That  was  the  nearest  house.  "  He  '11 
freeze  to  death  .here." 

Mr.  Dale's  house  was  about  one  fourth  of  a  mile 
back,  and  it  was  wise  for  them  to  go  to  the  nearest 
place.  The  wretched  man's  condition  required  im 
mediate  action. 

"  Let  us  put  him  on  his  horse,"  continued  Abra 
ham,  "  we  can't  lug  him  over  there.  Get  hold  of  the 
other  side  of  him,  boys,  and  we  '11  lift  him  on  the 
horse."  And  suiting  his  actions  to  his  words,  Abra- 


THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

ham  took  hold  of  one  arm,  and  putting  his  other 
hand  under  his  shoulders,  with  the  help  of  his  com 
panions,  they  raised  him  to  his  feet,  and  set  him,  or 
rather  laid  him,  on  his  horse.  One  of  the  number 
led  the  animal,  while  the  others  held  the  drunken 
man  on. 

"  He  don't  know  what  a  good  ride  he 's  having," 
said  one  of  the  boys,  laughing. 

"  And  so  he  '11  never  thank  us  for  it,"  added 
another. 

"  I  don't  think  it 's  any  laughing  matter,"  re 
sponded  Abraham.  "  If  it  was  your  father,  you 
wouldn't  feel  much  like  joking." 

"  That 's  a  fact,"  said  David,  who  was  wont  to 
take  a  correct  view  of  things.  "  The  man  is  to  be 
pitied,  after  all." 

"  His  horse  deserves  an  extra  peck  of  oats  for 
waitin'  for  him,"  suggested  Daniel.  "  He  's  used  to 
it,  I  s'pose." 

They  took  him  to  Dale's  house,  and  found  the 
family  in  bed.  Mr.  Dale  had  been  to  the  house- 
raising,  but  returned  before  the  boys  did. 

The  family  were  aroused,  and  made  acquainted 
with  the  affair,  and  a  rousing  fire  was  built,  before 
which  he  was  laid. 

"  I  'm  afraid  he  's  badly  frozen,"  said  Dale.  The 
man  was  insensible. 

"  So  am  I,"  replied  Abraham ;  "  and  I  will  stay 
and  help  you  take  care  of  him  through  the  night." 


EIGHTEEN   YEARS    OLD.  195 

%<  I  think  you  better.  By  the  looks  of  him,  I 
shall  want  somebody  to  help." 

"  Then  I  '11  stay,  boys,"  continued  Abraham,  "  if 
you  '11  go  round  on  your  way  back  and  let  mother 
know  where  I  am.  Tell  her  I  '11  be  along  early 
in  the  morning." 

The  boys  agreed  to  do  this,  and  left,  conversing 
on  their  way  about  the  affair,  and  remarking  upon 
the  kindness  and  generosity  of  Abraham.  The 
merciful  offer  of  the  latter  to  stay  and  take  care  of 
the  man  was  only  a  fair  illustration  of  his  general 
good  feelings.  His  benevolent  heart  felt  for  the 
needy  and  suffering.  It  was  unusual  for  a  youth 
to  exhibit  so  much  true  tenderness  for  the  unfor 
tunate  and  distressed  as  he  did.  The  neighbors  ob 
served  it,  and  commented  upon  it.  This  was  one 
of  the  traits  of  character  that  made  him  a  favorite 
with  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  unselfish,  disinter 
ested,  and  self-sacrificing.  He  would  cheerfully 
forego  a  night's  rest  to  help  the  intemperate  man. 
He  thought  more  of  the  drunkard's  safety  than 
he  did  of  his  own  ease.  And  there  are  many  of 
his  personal  acquaintances  in  our  land  who  will 
bear  witness  that,  from  that  day  to  this,  this  amiable 
quality  of  heart  has  won  him  admiring  friends. 

We  need  say  no  more  of  this  affair,  than  that 
Myers  rallied  from  his  insensibility  during  the  night, 
and  early  the  next  morning  he  started  homeward. 
Abraham  was  satisfied  with  the  night's  labor. 


196  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"We  must  not  omit  to  mention  that  about  this 
time  Abraham's  sister  was  married  to  a  young  man 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  one  year  after  the  nuptials 
were  celebrated  she  died,  rolling  another  great  wave 
of  sorrow  over  her  brother's  heart. 

There  remains  but  one  other  event  of  his  life  in 
Indiana  that  we  shall  narrate,  and  this  occurred 
just  after  the  heavy  loss  experienced  by  the  death 
of  his  sister.  It  relates  to  that  brief  portion  of  his 
life  that  was  devoted  to  flat-boating. 


XVII. 

TEIP  TO  NEW  OKLEANS. 

"  ^1 TH AT  say  you,  Abe,  about  takin'  a  flat-boat 
T  T  to  New  Orleans  for  me  ?  "  inquired  a  man 
whom  we  shall  call  Peters,  as  he  met  Abraham 
when  he  was  on  the  way  to  see  his  father  upon  the 
subject. 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  Abraham,  rather  at  a 
loss  to  know  whether  his  interrogator  was  in  earnest 
or  not. 

"  I  'm  not  joking,  Abe  ;  I  have  a  quantity  of 
stores  that  I  am  going  to  forward  to  New  Orleans, 
and  I  thought  you  and  John  might  take  a  flat-boat 
there.  What  say  you  to  a  bargain  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  go,  if  we  can  do  it,"  answered 
Abraham.  "  Is  John  used  to  the  business  ?  "  John 
was  Mr.  Peters's  eldest  son. 

"  About  the  same  that  you  are.  But  I  thought 
that  both  of  you  together  might  manage  to  make 
the  trip." 

The  fact  was,  that  Mr.  Peters  had  entire  confi 
dence  in  Abraham's  tact  at  doing  things,  as  well  as 
in  his  fidelity,  so  that  he  would  feel  safer  to  give  up 


198  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

the  management  of  the  boat  to  him  rather  than  to 
his  son.  As  he  always  did  everything  well,  Mr. 
Peters  expected  that  he  would  do  this  well,  —  a 
very  good  premise  from  which  to  derive  such  a 
conclusion. 

"  I  am  ready  to  undertake  it,  if  father  is  willing," 
continued  Abraham.  "  Perhaps  he  will  be  afraid 
to  have  me  go." 

"  I  rather  think  not.  I  will  see  him,  if  you  are 
disposed  to  go." 

"  Well,  I  am  disposed  to  go." 

"  And  it  will  suit  John  fust-rate  to  have  you  go.' 

"  How  long  before  you  will  want  to  have  us  start  ?  " 

"  Just  as  soon  as  I  can  get  ready ;  I  should  say, 
within  two  weeks." 

"  I  can  go  then  as  well  as  any  time,"  said  Abra 
ham. 

"  I  'm  going  to  see  your  father  now." 

Mr.  Peters  proceeded  to  have  an  interview  with 
Mr.  Lincoln,  and  Abraham  went  with  him. 

"  How  long  will  they  be  gone  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

"  That  depends  on  circumstances." 

"  Rather  venturesome  for  such  young  fellers,"  said 
Mr.  Lincoln. 

"  And  many  hardships,  too,"  remarked  his  mother. 

"  And  not  a  little  pleasure,  I  expect,"  responded 
Abraham,  looking  as  if  he  coveted  the  berth. 

"  Flat-boatmen  see  hard  times,"  continued  Mr. 
Lincoln. 


TRIP   TO  NEW   ORLEANS.  199 

"  And  so  have  you  seen  hard  times,"  answered 
Mr.  Peters.  "  And  as  to  that  matter,  all  of  us  have 
seen  some  hard  times,  I  reckon." 

"  Of  course,  and  I  don't  expect  my  boy  will  steer 
clear  of  all  these  things ;  but  this  is  new  business 
for  him." 

"  Yes,  and  none  the  worse  for  that." 

"  He  may  not  do  so  well  for  you  ;  that  is  what  I 
was  thinkin'  of." 

"  As  to  that,  Abe  does  everything  well,  and  that 
is  the  reason  I  want  to  hire  him.  I  will  pay  him 
well  for  it." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  Ten  dollars  a  month  ;  and  that  is  a  good  price 
for  a  boy  of  his  age." 

"  He  is  wuth  just  as  much  to  you  for  that  busi 
ness  as  an  older  man  with  no  more  experience. 
He  is  strong,  and  able  to  endure  as  much  as  any 
one." 

"  That  may  be,  and  that  is  why  I  am  earnest  to 
have  him  go  ;  and  I  know,  too,  that  I  can  trust 
him.  There  is  considerable  to  look  after  in  such 
an  enterprise." 

"  Almost  too  much  for  two  such  boys  to  have." 

u  Not  with  Abe  to  oversee  and  manage,"  said  Mr. 
Peters. 

"  Well,  I  am  not  afraid  to  risk  him,  if  you  ain't," 
added  Mr.  Lincoln.  "  I  know  he  will  do  as  well 
as  he  can." 


200  THE   PIC^EER   BOY. 

"And  that 's  as  well  as  I  want  he  should  do.  So 
I  understand  that  the  bargain  is  made  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you  say  so." 

"  You  had  my  '  say  so  '  some  time  ago.  Be  on 
hand,  Abe."  The  last  remark  was  addressed  to 
Abraham,  as  Mr.  Peters  turned  to  leave. 

Abraham  was  delighted  with  the  prospect  before 
him.  Such  a  trip,  on  such  business,  suited  him 
exactly.  We  will  not  stop  to  follow  him  through 
the  interim  of  two  weeks ;  but  while  he  is  getting 
ready,  we  will  give  some  account  of  flat-boating  on 
the  Western  waters. 

For  some  years  there  had  been  a  class  of  boat 
men,  fearless,  hardy,  athletic  men,  who  "  traversed 
the  longest  rivers,  penetrated  the  most  remote  wil 
derness  upon  their  watery  routes,  and  kept  up  a 
trade  and  intercourse  between  the  most  distant 
points." 

They  were  exposed  to  great  perils,  and  were  out 
shelterless  in  all  kinds  of  weather.  With  no  bed 
but  the  deck  of  their  boats  on  which  to  lie  at  night, 
and  no  covering  but  a  blanket,  they  spent  months 
and  years  of  their  existence. 

It  was  on  such  boats  that  the  rich  cargoes  ascend 
ing  the  Mississippi  were  carried.  By  human  labor, 
they  were  propelled  against  the  strong  current  for 
nearly  two  thousand  miles ;  and  it  was  a  labor  that 
required  great  muscular  strength,  and  remarkable 
powers  of  endurance.  The  result  was  that  a  class 


TRIP    TO   NEW    ORLEANS.  201 

of  men  were  trained  in  this  business  of  unusual 
courage,  and  proud  only  of  their  ability  to  breast 
storms  and  endure  hardships. 

In  addition  to  this  class,  whose  life-business  it  was 
to  propel  these  Western  boats,  there  were  those  who 
occasionally  made  a  trip  to  New  Orleans  to  sell 
their  stores.  Sometimes  several  farmers,  or  other 
persons,  would  club  together  and  make  out  a  cargo, 
and  send  it  down  to  New  Orleans ;  and  sometimes 
one  alone  would  do  the  same.  This  was  the  case 
with  Mr.  Peters.  He  had  a  quantity  of  stores 
suited  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  sugar  plantations  in 
Louisiana,  and  he  wanted  to  convert  them  into 
cash.  Money  was  very  scarce,  and  many  families, 
like  that  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  saw  but  little.  What 
was  in  circulation  was  brought  into  the  Western 
country  by  people  moving  thither  from  the  East,  or 
was  obtained,  as  Mr.  Peters  proposed  to  obtain  some, 
by  sending  a  boat-load  of  stores  to  New  Orleans. 

At  that  time  the  merchants  did  not  trade  in 
corn,  flour,  pork,  wheat,  beef,  &c.,  as  they  do  now. 
They  bought  beeswax,  feathers,  and  tallow,  and 
traded  in  furs  and  peltries.  They  did  not  send  the 
products  of  the  country  to  the  East  to  liquidate 
their  debts,  for  satisfactory  exchanges  could  then 
be  made  through  the  United  States  Bank.  But 
now  that  order  of  things  has  entirely  changed,  and 
the  flat-boat  is  no  longer  used  in  commerce. 

But  Abraham  had  agreed  to  become  a  flat-boat- 
9* 


202  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

man,  at  least  for  a  time,  and  the  day  of  his  depart 
ure  was  at  hand 

"  Eighteen  hundred  miles  is  rather  of  a  long  trip 
for  a  feller  who  has  n't  seen  more  of  the  world  than 
you  have,  Abe,"  said  his  father. 

"  None  too  long,"  replied  Abraham.  "  I  shall  see 
some  of  the  world  now,  if  I  never  have  before." 

"  And  perhaps  see  the  bottom  of  the  Mississippi, 
too." 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  that.'* 

"  But  hundreds  have  lost  their  lives  in  this  way, 
and  men  who  have  been  used  to  the  business,  too." 

"  That  is  no  sign  that  I  shall." 

"  It  is  no  sign  you  won't,"  answered  his  father. 
"  It 's  well  enough  to  think  on  't." 

"  But  I  sha'n't  borrow  any  trouble  about  it." 

"  I  don't  ask  you  to  do  that ;  but  it 's  wuth  while 
to  think  that  you  may  be  sent  into  eternity  by  some 
accident." 

"  If  you  don't  want  I  should  go,  I  will  give  it  up 
now."  Abraham  inferred  from  his  father's  tone 
and  manner  of  speaking,  that  he  had  given  his  con 
sent  against  his  better  judgment,  and  he  was  bound 
not  to  go  against  his  father's  will. 

"  I  do  want  you  should  go.  I  was  only  tellin' 
some  of  my  thoughts.  I  can't  help  thinkin'." 

"  It  may  be  the  best  thing  for  me  that  I  ever  did." 

"Yes;  if  no  accident  happens  to  you,  I  have  no 
doubt  that  it  will  be  a  real  good  school  for  you. 


TRIP    TO   NEW    ORLEANS.  203 

But  it  is  a  long  ways  to  go,  and  a  long  time  for  you 
to  be  gone." 

"  But  I  have  got  to  go  some  time,  and  I  may  as 
well  begin  now." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  that  makes  it  no  easier  for  me  to 
have  you  go.  However,  it  don't  do  no  good  to  talk 
about  it  now.  I  have  said  you  might  go,  and  you 
may,  and  I  want  you  should  go." 

So  Abraham  and  his  associate,  John,  embarked 
upon  their  flat-boat  at  the  appointed  time,  bound  for 
New  Orleans.  Their  cargo  was  destined  for  a  sugar 
plantation,  and  they  had  received  all  necessary 
instructions,  and  bade  their  'friends  "  good  by."  It 
was  a  beautiful  day,  and  the  Ohio  never  appeared 
more  charming  to  young  adventurers.  Their  voy 
age  began  auspiciously,  and  their  young  hearts  were 
full  of  glee. 

"  I  say,  Abe,  how  many  times  you  goin'  to  upset 
before  reachin'  the  Mississippi  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  I  hardly  think  we  shall  do  it  more  than  once," 
answered  Abraham,  "  unless  you  have  a  better 
faculty  than  I  have  to  load  up  again  in  the  water." 

"  I  did  n't  think  of  that ;  it  would  be  a  hard  mat 
ter  to  reload  at  the  bottom  of  the  river." 

"  Yes ;  and  we  must  look  out  for  accidents,  or 
your  father  will  wish  he  had  never  sent  us.  I 
hope  we  shall  make  a  capital  thing  of  it." 

"  I  hope  so,  too,  or  we  shall  never  have  another 
such  a  chance.  The  old  man  never  would  have 
sent  me  if  it  had  n't  been  for  you,  Abe." 


204  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

"  HOW  SO  ?  " 

"  Because  he  thinks  you  can  do  most  anything 
that's  possible,  and  so  he  was  willing  to  risk  me 
and  all  the  cargo  with  you." 

"  Pshaw  !     You  are  fooling  now." 

"  No  such  thing  ;  it 's  the  living  truth.  I  expect 
he  thought  that  you  could  keep  me  and  the  cargo 
from  sinkin',  if  we  did  upset." 

"  Well,  my  father  rather  expects  the  opposite,  I 
judge  by  his  talk,"  replied  Abraham.  "  He  thinks 
it  is  rather  of  a  risky  piece  of  business  to  send  us 
on  such  a  trip." 

"  Why  did  he  let  you  go  ?  " 

"  I  hardly  know ;  I  thought,  after  he  had  prom 
ised  to  let  me  go,  that  he  was  going  to  alter  his 
mind." 

"You  wouldn't  liked  that." 

"  Not  I,  though  I  should  have  stayed  at  home  if 
he  had  said  so." 

"  Should  ? " 

"  Of  course ;  it  would  be  too  bad  to  go  against 
his  will." 

"Not  if  you  made  a  good  thing  of  it." 

"That  wouldn't  make  it  right." 

It  must  answer  our  purpose  to  say  simply,  that 
they  continued  the  voyage  with  as  much  courage 
and  hope  as  they  began  it.  At  night  they  tied  up 
their  boat  close  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  in  some 
favorable  spot,  and  lay  down  upon  their  "  running 


TRIP    TO   NEW   ORLEANS.  205 

board,"  as  a  flat-boat  was  sometimes  called,  for 
Bleep.  They  had  no  bed,  —  nothing  but  the  hard 
deck,  with  a  blanket  to  cover  them.  True,  this  was 
not  so  great  a  change  for  boys  who  were  reared  in 
the  wilderness,  living  in  a  house  without  a  floor,  or 
a  feather-bed,  or  a  pane  of  glass,  as  it  would  be  for 
boys  of  this  day  who  are  used  to  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  affluent  homes.  Still  it  was  a 
change,  and  many  of  their  nights  were  extremely 
lonely. 

.  Their  voyage  was  not  monotonous.  The  scenery 
was  continually  changing,  and  they  frequently 
prt^sed  other  boats  with  their  merry  crews,  and 
held  conversations  with  people  who  flocked  to  the 
banks  of  the  river  from  adjacent  villages.  "  Where 
are  you  from  ?  "  "  Where  are  you  bound  ?  " 
"•  What  are  you  loaded  with  ?  "  were  questions 
that  they  frequently  had  to  answer. 

The  days  were  not  all  sunshine.  Heavy  storms 
sometimes  descended  upon  them,  and  they  had  to 
exert  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  keep  their  little 
craft  right  side  up.  Day  after  day  they  were 
drenched  with  rain,  and  still  they  must  keep  on 
the  voyage.  Violent  storms  sometimes  raged  at 
night,  the  wind  blowing  almost  a  hurricane,  and 
the  rain  pouring  down  in  torrents,  and  still  there 
was  no  alternative,  —  they  must  make  their  bed  on 
their  little  boat  and  take  the  pelting  of  the  storm. 
These  were  times  that  tried  their  spirit,  and  yet 


206  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

they  had  no  complaints  to  utter.  Never  for  a 
moment  did  Abraham  wish  he  had  not  undertaken 
the  voyage.  He  was  not  accustomed  to  undertake 
a  work,  and  fail  to  accomplish  it.  He  always 
finished  what  he  began,  and  started  with  that  deter 
mination. 

They  were  approaching  their  place  of  destination. 
As  their  cargo  was  designed  for  the  sugar  planta 
tions,  they  drew  up  to  the  sugar  coast  on  the  north 
of  the  city  of  New  Orleans  to  trade.  They  took 
measures  to  advertise  their  wares,  and  found  ready 
customers.  On  the  night  after  their  arrival  an  in 
cident  occurred  that  we  will  narrate.  They  had 
fastened  their  boat,  and,  much  wearied  with  the 
labors  of  the  day,  they  laid  down  at  an  early  hour 
to  rest.  About  midnight  Abraham  was  startled  by 
a  noise. 

"  What 's  that  ?  "  he  whispered  to  his  companion, 
who  was  still  asleep. 

Instead  of  a  reply  from  John,  he  distinctly  heard 
low  voices  within  a  few  feet  from  the  boat,  as  if 
trouble  was-  brewing. 

"  John !  John !  "  he  whispered,  shaking  him  at 
the  same  time.  And  while  John  was  waking  out 
of  a  sound  sleep,  Abraham  was  straining  his  eyes  to 
see  what  he  could  discover  through  the  darkness. 
He  was  satisfied  that  he  could  discern  the  figures 
of  several  men  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

"  John  !  there  's  trouble  for  us." 


TRIP   TO   NEW  ORLEANS.  207 

"  What  is  it  ?  "     Both  spoke  in  a  whisper. 

"  Foul  play,  I  think.  Hark  !  "  Both  listened,  and 
the  low  muttering  of  voices  could  be  heard. 

"  Niggers,"  whispered  John.  "  They  don't  mean 
anything." 

u  They  would  n't  be  here  at  this  time  of  night,  if 
they  did  n't.  They  know  we  've  been  trading  and 
taking  money." 

"  There !  I  see  the  figures  of  a  number  moving 
this  way,"  said  John.  "  I  guess  there  is  trouble 
for  us." 

"  I  know  there  is,"  answered  Abraham  ;  "  and  we 
must  defend  ourselves  to  the  last.  Wlw  's  there  ?  " 
And  he  shouted  this  inquiry  with  much  emphasis, 
at  the  same  time  seizing  a  billet  of  wood  that  lay 
near  him. 

"  WHO  's  THERE  ?  "  he  shouted  again. 

"  Dar  ole  nigger,"  was  the  response  from  one  of 
the  negroes  ;  for  it  turned  out  that  there  were  seven 
slaves. 

"  What  are  you  here  for  ?  Off  with  yourselves," 
replied  Abraham.  But  the  words  had  scarcely 
dropped  from  his  lips,  when  one  of  the  number 
leaped  upon  the  boat  by  one  dexterous  bound.  But 
no  sooner  did  he  strike  the  boat  than  Abraham 
knocked  him  into  the  water  with  his  billet. 

"  We  must  fight,  John  ;  they  mean  to  murder  us. 
Strike  for  your  life ! "  By  this  time  John  was 
armed  with  a  cudgel  and  nerved  for  the  struggle. 


208  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

And  he  soon  had  an  opportunity  to  fight ;  for  no 
sooner  was  the  first  intruder  knocked  into  the 
water  than  four  others  bounded  upon  the  boat. 
Heavy  blows  were  dealt  upon  them,  until  it  became 
a  hand-to-hand  fight,  so  that  billets  could  not  be 
used. 

"  Knock  them  into  the  water,  Abe,"  shouted 
John  ;  and  that  was  just  what  Abraham  was  try 
ing  to  do. 

After  a  severe  struggle,  lasting  some  ten  minutes, 
they  succeeded  in  tumbling  three  of  the  number 
into  the  water,  whereupon  the  fourth  made  his 
escape. 

"  Come,  John,  let  's  after  them  on  the  shore," 
cried  Abraham.  And  no  sooner  said  than  done. 
Before  the  last  three  who  were  plunged  into  the 
water  had  crawled  up  the  bank,  Abraham  was 
pounding  two  of  them  on  the  shore  with  his  club. 
The  first  one  whom  he  knocked  into  the  water  had 
reached  the  bank,  and  he  fled  from  his  antagonist 
as  he  would  have  done  from  a  tiger.  And  by  the 
time  the  other  three  crawled  out  of  their  cold  bath, 
the  two  boys  had  driven  the  four  on  shore  away  at 
the  top  of  their  speed. 

"  Here,  John,  give  it  to  these,"  exclaimed  Abra 
ham. 

And  they  pounced  upon  the  three  crawling  out  of 
the  water,  dealing  heavy  blows  upon  them  before 
they  had  time  to  rally  upon  the  bank.  The  negroes 


TRIP   TO   NEW   ORLEANS.  209 

frero  thoroughly  terrified  at  their  unexpected  recep 
tion.  They  had  not  counted  upon  the  strength  and 
courage  of  the  two  young  boatmen.  They  supposed 
it  would  be  an  easy  matter  for  seven  of  them  to 
make  way  with  two  youth  like  them,  and  then  rob 
the  boat.  But  the  young  men  saw  that  it  was  a 
case  of  life  and  death,  and  they  fought  with  despe 
ration.  They  had  no  doubt  that  the  negroes  meant 
to  murder  them,  and  then  rob  them  and  the  boat, 
and  they  fought  accordingly.  Abraham's  strength 
was  almost  superhuman  on  the  occasion,  and  the 
negroes  were  badly  bruised  and  maimed  by  his 
blows.  They  were  armed  with  clubs,  and  they  laid 
them  upon  Abraham  and  John  so  as  to  injure  them 
considerably.  But  the  latter  came  out  of  the  battle 
victorious.  The  negroes  escaped  as  best  they  could. 

"  Are  you  hurt  much,  John  ?  "  inquired  Abra 
ham. 

u  No  great ;  got  a  few  hard  knocks.  How  is  it 
with  you  ?  " 

"  Lamed  my  arm  ;  one  of  'em  hit  me  a  cut  across 
my  right  eye,  too.  But  I  have  no  fault  to  find,  since 
we  saved  our  necks." 

"  We  must  get  the  boat  off  now  as  quick  as  pos 
sible,"  said  John,  "  or  they  '11  be  back  with  twice 
their  number." 

"  I  thought  of  that ;  you  jump  aboard,  and  I  will 
untie  the  boat.  We  must  lose  no  time,  neither." 

In  a  minute  John  was  aboard,  and  scarcely  an- 


210  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

other  minute  had  passed  before  Abraham  followed 
him,  having  loosed  the  boat. 

"  We  are  safe  now,  if  the  whole  plantation 
comes,"  said  John,  as  they  shoved  off  into  the 
stream. 

"  We  sha'n't  need  to  go  far,"  added  Abraham. 
"  Only  change  our  position,  and  we  are  safe." 

"  That  may  be,  but  I  think  I  shall  sleep  with  my 
eyes  open  the  rest  of  the  night." 

"  And  I  will  keep  you  company,"  responded 
Abraham.  "  The  next  time  I  come  to  New  Orleans, 
I  shall  come  armed.  This  going  to  war  without  a 
gun  is  not  quite  the  thing." 

"  I  wish  we  had  been  armed,"  said  John. 
"  Would  n't  we  made  the  feathers  fly  ?  " 

"  The  wool,  you  mean,"  replied  Abraham,  jo 
cosely.  He  had  become  as  cool  as  if  nothing  had 
happened. 

"  They  meant  to  kill  us." 

"  Of  course  they  did.  It  would  n't  have  done 
for  them  to  rob  us,  and  leave  us  to  tell  the  story  to 
their  master.  But  they  might  have  made  way  with 
us,  and  robbed  and  sunk  the  boat,  and  nobody  been 
any  the  wiser  for  it." 

"  They  are  no  fools,  if  they  be  niggers." 

"  No ;  but  after  all  they  are  not  so  much  to 
blame  as  their  masters,"  added  Abraham.  "  Slav 
ery  has  robbed  them  of  everything,  and  so  I  s'pose 
they  think  it  is  fair  play  to  take  what  they  can 
get." 


TRIP   TO  NEW  ORLEANS.  211 

They  succeeded  in  selling  their  cargo  well,  and 
returned  in  safety  to  Indiana.  The  venturesome 
enterprise  for  two  such  youth  turned  out  a  capital 
thing,  and  when  their  narrow  escape  was  known, 
the  trip  on  the  flat-boat  was  talked  of  as  a  wonder 
ful  expedition,  and  Abraham  received  the  credit  of 
being  a  good  boatman,  manager,  salesman,  as  well 
as  a  courageous  defender  of  number  one.  The 
success  was  ascribed  to  his  tact,  judgment,  fidelity, 
and  force  of  character. 


XVIII. 

EEMOVAL  TO  ILLINOIS. 

SOON  after  Abraham's  trip  to  New  Orleans,  the 
most  glowing  accounts  of  the  fertility  of  the 
prairie  lands  of  Illinois  began  to  spread  in  the  older 
States.  They  reached  the  Lincoln  family  early,  and 
the  father  began  to  talk  of  moving.  From  month 
to  month  the  news  from  Illinois  concerning  the 
richness  and  productiveness  of  the  soil  grew  more 
and  more  interesting,  and  a  tide  of  emigration  at 
once  set  towards  that  State.  Mr.  Lincoln  became 
desirous  of  moving  thither  himself,  and  Abraham 
was  earnest  to  go.  Accordingly,  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  the  exact  truth  of  the  matter,  and 
selecting  a  good  location  to  settle,  Dennis  Hanks,  a 
relative  of  Abraham's  step-mother,  was  delegated  to 
proceed  to  Illinois  on  a  tour  of  investigation.  Lin 
coln  did  not  wish  to  move  without  knowing  more 
of  the  country  than  he  could  gather  from  rumor. 

It  was  two  years  after  the  aforesaid  news  from 
Illinois  reached  the  Lincoln  family  before  they  were 
ready  to  move.  The  journey  of  Hanks  thither  fully 
confirmed  all  they  had  heard,  and  this  decided  the 


REMOVAL   TO  ILLINOIS.  213 

matter  of  their  removal.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  March,  1830,  that  they  were  prepared  to  start. 

There  were  three  families  to  move,  and  twelve 
persons  in  all,  —  the  family  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  the 
families  of  his  wife's  two  daughters,  who  came  to 
Indiana,  and  settled  near  her. 

Abraham  was  just  twenty-one  years  old,  and 
therefore  free.  But  he  was  still  a  faithful  son. 

"  You  are  your  own  man  now,"  said  his  father. 

"  What  of  that  ?  "  was  Abraham's  reply,  suspect 
ing  what  thoughts  were  in  his  mind. 

u  Why,  you  can  go  or  stay,  though  I  don't  see 
how  I  can  get  along  without  you." 

"  Nor  I ;  and  I  want  to  go  to  Illinois  more  than 
you  do,  and  I  shall  see  you  safely  there,  and  settled 
down,  before  I  leave  you." 

"  I  'm  glad  of  that,"  continued  his  father.  "  I 
won't  ask  you  to  stay  at  home  one  minute  after  we 
get  settled  down.  You  ought  to  be  lookin'  out  for 
yourself,  now  you  are  of  age." 

"  We  '11  talk  about  that  when  we  get  there.  Per 
haps  I  shall  find  enough  to  do  for  a  while  to  get 
you  fixed  up,  and  I  can  attend  to  that  better  than 
you  can." 

"  Well,  it 's  a  long  ways  there,  and  I  'm  almost 
sorry  that  I  undertook  it  at  my  time  of  life.  It 
looks  like  a  great  job  to  get  there,  and  begin  new." 

"  It  don't  to  me.  We  '11  be  there,  and  have  a 
roof  over  our  heads,  in  less  than  four  weeks." 


214  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  If  nothin'  happens,  you  mean." 

"  There  will  something  happen,  I  'm  thinking," 
answered  Abraham,  dryly,  "  or  we  shall  never  get 
there." 

"  What  ?  " 

"  I  expect  that  it  will  happen  that  we  shall  go 
there  in  about  two  weeks,  by  hard  travelling.  If 
that  don't  happen,  I  shall  be  sorry." 

"  We  shall  see,"  added  Mr.  Lincoln. 

The  fact  was,  Abraham  thought  too  much  of  his 
father  and  mother  to  leave  them  to  undertake  such 
a  journey  alone.  No  money  could  have  hired  him 
to  leave  them  before  they  were  settled  in  Illinois. 
Mr.  Scripps,  who  knows  all  the  circumstances  well, 
says,  "  He  was  the  only  son  of  his  father,  now  ad 
vanced  in  years  ;  and  it  was  not  in  his  nature  to 
desert  his  aged  sire  at  a  time  when  all  the  hard 
ships,  privations,  and  toil  of  making  a  new  home 
in  a  new  country  were  about  to  be  entered  upon. 
Whatever  the  future  may  have  seemed  to  hold  in 
it,  as  a  reward  for  effort  specially  directed  to  that 
end,  he  cheerfully  put  aside  in  obedience  to  his 
sense  of  duty,  and  engaged  at  once  and  heartily 
in  the  work  before  him." 

A  son  of  so  much  consideration  and  fidelity  will 
not  fail  to  make  his  mark. 

The  above  writer,  a  Western  man  himself,  de 
scribes  the  manner  of  moving  in  those  days,  as 
follows :  — 


REMOVAL   TO   ILLINOIS.  215 

"  In  those  days,  when  people  changed  their  resi 
dence  from  one  State  or  settlement  to  another,  they 
took  all  their  movable  possessions  with  them,  — 
their  household  goods,  their  kitchen  utensils,  in 
cluding  provisions  for  the  journey,  their  farming 
implements,  their  horses  and  cattle.  The  former 
were  loaded  into  wagons,  drawn,  for  the  most  part, 
by  oxen  ;  and  the  latter  were  driven  by  the  smaller 
boys  of  the  family,  who  were  sometimes  assisted  by 
their  sisters  and  mother.  Thus  arranged  for  a  jour 
ney  of  weeks,  —  not  unfrequently  of  months,  —  the 
emigrant  set  out,  thinking  but  little  of  the  hardships 
before  him,  —  of  bad  roads,  of  unbridged  streams, 
of  disagreeable  weather,  of  sleeping  on  the  ground 
or  in  the  wagon,  of  sickness,  accidents,  and  some 
times  death  by  the  way,  —  dwelling  chiefly  in  thought 
upon  the  novelty  and  excitement  of  the  trip,  the 
rumored  attractions  of  the  new  country  whither  he 
was  going,  and  of  the  probable  advantages  likely  to 
result  from  the  change.  By  ten  or  fifteen  miles  per 
day,  over  untravelled  roads,  now  across  mountains, 
swamps,  and  watercourses,  and  now  through  dense, 
umbrageous  forests,  and  across  broad  prairies  where 
the  horizon  alone  bounded  the  vision,  the  caravan 
of  wagons,  men,  women,  and  children,  flocks  and 
herds,  toiled  onward  by  day,  sleeping  under  the 
broad  canopy  of  stars  at  night,  patiently  accomplish 
ing  the  destined  journey,  sometimes  of  weeks',  some 
times  of  months'  duration." 


216  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

In  this  manner  the  Lincoln  family  moved.  They 
had  two  ox-teams  to  carry  the  goods  of  the  three 
families,  —  one  team  of  two  oxen,  and  the  other  of 
four.  Abraham  drove  the  latter.  The  journey 
which  they  proposed  to  undertake  was  almost  two 
hundred  miles ;  yet,  for  the  perseverance  and  hero 
ism  of  pioneer  families,  it  was  not  a  very  great 
undertaking. 

The  weather  proved  favorable  nearly  all  the  way, 
though  the  roads  were  excessively  muddy.  For 
miles,  Abraham  walked  through  mud  a  foot  deep. 
Often,  for  a  long  distance,  he  waded  in  water  up  to 
his  knees  (and  it  is  well  known  that  his  knees  were 
not  very  low  down).  When  they  had  performed 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  the  journey, 
they  came  to  the  Kaskaskia  River,  where  they  found 
the  bottom  lands  overflowed,  and  the  old  corduroy 
road  nearly  gone. 

"  We  're  done  to  now,"  said  Hanks. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  answered  Abraham. 
"  Let  us  see  about  it." 

"  It  is  plain  enough  to  see,  I  should  think.  The 
man  who  directed  us  back  there  yesterday  said,  if 
the  bottom  was  overflowed,  it  would  be  three  miles 
through  water,  and  I  should  think  it  was  more  than 
that." 

"  I  don't  care  if  it's  twice  three,"  replied  Abra 
ham,  "  if  it 's  not  too  deep  to  wade." 

"  We  can  wait  some  days  for  the  water  to  fall,  or 


REMOVAL   TO   ILLINOIS.  217 

wo  can  go  up  or  down  the  river  a  few  miles,  and 
possibly  find  a  better  place  to  cross,"  suggested 
Hanks. 

"  That  will  take  too  much  time.  The  water 
won't  fall  yet  a  while.  It  is  only  the  middle  of 
March,  you  know,  and  the  rivers  are  always  high. 
I  am  for  going  straight  ahead  through  thick  and 
thin." 

"  That 's  the  only  way,  I  think,"  said  Mr.  Lin 
coln,  who  had  listened  to  the  conversation,  while  he 
was  looking  rather  doubtfully  upon  the  flood  of 
water  before  them." 

"  We  can't  stay  here  for  the  water  to  fall,  that 's 
certain,"  continued  Abraham,  "  and  as  to  finding  a 
better  place  to  cross,  I  don't  believe  we  can,  if  we 
go  around  twenty  miles." 

"  And  that  would  take  time,  too,"  suggested  his 
father. 

"  Yes,  and  I  am  for  going  right  along.  I  will  go 
forward ;  and  if  I  go  under,  the  rest  of  you  may 
take  warning."  This  remark  was  made  rather  in 
a  strain  of  pleasantry,  to  inspire  all  hearts  around 
him  with  courage.  "  Come,  Dennis,  what  do  you 
say  ?  Will  you  follow  me  ?  " 

"  Of  course  ;  I  can  go  where  you  can." 

It  was  settled  to  go  forward,  turning  neither  to 
the  right  hand  nor  left.  And  for  three  miles  Abra 
ham  drove  his  team  through  water  that  was  up  to 
his  waist,  urging  his  oxen  along,  and  cheering  the 
10 


THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

hearts  of  the  company  with  words  of  encourage 
ment.  His  usual  energy  and  force  of  character 
enabled  him  to  overcome  this  difficulty,  as  the  same 
elements  of  success  have  served  him  well  many  times 
from  that  day  to  this. 

They  accomplished  the  journey  from  Spencer 
County,  Indiana,  to  Decatur,  Illinois,  in  fifteen 
days.  The  spot  selected  for  their  home  was  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Saiigamon  River,  about  ten 
miles  west  of  Decatur,  —  a  spot  wisely  chosen,  be 
cause  it  was  at  the  junction  of  the  timber  and  prai 
rie  lands. 

A  log-house  was  immediately  erected,  in  the  build 
ing  of  which  Abraham  acted  a  conspicuous  part. 
Ten  acres  of  prairie  land  was  selected,  and  the  sods 
broken  for  a  crop  of  corn. 

"  That  must  be  fenced  at  once,"  said  Abraham. 

"  And  you  '11  have  to  split  the  rails,  if  it  is  done," 
replied  his  father. 

"  That  I  can  do,  as  I  am  used  to  it ;  but  I  don't 
expect  to  split  rails  for  a  living  all  my  days." 

"  I  hope  you  won't  have  to.  When  we  get  things 
under  way,  you  can  seek  your  fortin'  somewhere 
else." 

"  I  have  n't  made  up  my  mind  as  to  that.  There 
will  be  time  enough  for  that  when  the  ten  acres  are 
fenced  in." 

"  We  shall  have  enough  to  do  this  slimmer  to 
break  up  and  plant  ten  acres  of  corn,  and  take  care 


UKMOVAL   TO   ILLINOIS.  219 

of  it,  and  fence  the  lot.  But  who  ever  saw  such 
land  as  this  ?  The  half  was  not  told  us  ?  "  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  surprised  at  the  richness  of  the  lands  ; 
and,  in  all  respects,  he  was  pleased  with  the  change 
of  residence. 

"  There  can  be  no  better  farming  land  than  this," 
answered  Abraham  ;  "  and  it  ain't  half  the  work  to 
cultivate  these  prairie  lands.  And  I  am  just  the 
hand  to  fence  them,  as  I  have  swung  the  axe  so 
much." 

"  Yes,  you  can  do  it  better  than  I  can,  and  a 
great  deal  quicker ;  so  you  may  go  at  it  as  soon  as 
you  please." 

Accordingly,  Abraham  proceeded  to  split  the 
rails  for  the  ten-acre  lot.  These  are  the  rails  about 
which  so  much  was  said  in  the  late  Presidential  cam 
paign.  "  Their  existence,"  says  Mr.  Scripps,  "  was 
brought  to  the  public  attention  during  the  sitting 
of  the  Republican  State  Convention,  at  Decatur,  on 
which  occasion  a  banner,  attached  to  two  of  these 
rails,  and  bearing  an  appropriate  inscription,  was 
brought  into  the  assemblage  and  formally  presented 
to  that  body,  amid  a  scene  of  unparalleled  enthusi 
asm.  After  that,  they  were  in  demand  in  every 
State  of  the  Union  in  which  free  labor  is  honored, 
where  they  were  borne  in  processions  of  the  people, 
and  hailed  by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  freemen  as 
a  symbol  of  triumph,  and  as  a  glorious  vindication 
of  freedom,  and  of  the  rights  and  the  dignity  of 


'220  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

free  labor.  These,  however,  were  far  from  being 
the  first  or  only  rails  made  by  Lincoln.  He  was  a 
practised  hand  at  the  business.  His  first  lessons 
had  been  taken  while  yet  a  boy  in  Indiana.  Some 
of  the  rails  made  by  him  in  that  State  have  been 
clearly  identified.  The  writer  has  seen  a  cane,  now 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  made  by  one  of 
his  old  Indiana  acquaintances,  from  one  of  those 
rails  split  by  his  own  hands  in  boyhood." 

Thus  was  he  reared  to  labor.  He  believed  in 
labor.  He  was  not  ashamed  to  labor.  Louis  Phi 
lippe  said,  when  he  occupied  the  throne  of  France, 
that  he  himself  was  the  only  monarch  of  Europe 
who  was  qualified  for  his  place,  for  the  reason  that 
he  was  the  only  one  who  could  black  his  own  boots. 
If  self-help  is  a  necessary  qualification  for  a  ruler, 
then  Abraham  was  always  qualifying  himself  to  rule. 

That  summer  of  hard  toil  passed,  and  the  golden 
harvests  of  autumn  repaid  the  laborer  for  his  sweat 
and -fatigue  ;  and  Abraham  was  still  at  home.  Win 
ter  set  in  early,  and  proved  to  be  the  severest  one 
everr  known  in  all  that  region.  That  was  the  win 
ter  of  the  "  great  snow,"  as  it  was  called,  when  for 
weeks  it  was  three  feet  deep  upon  a  level.  In  conse 
quence  there  was  much  suffering.  It  was  a  trying 
winter  for  cattle.  Beasts  suffered  as  well  as  men. 
The  Lincoln  family  were  well  supplied  with  corn, 
but  their  supply  of  meat  was  scanty.  As  their  de 
pendence  for  animal  food  was  mainly  upon  the  rifle, 


REMOVAL  TO  ILLINOIS.  221 

the  deep  snow  interfered  very  much  with  their  sup 
ply.  But  for  Abraham's  capacity  to  endure,  tho 
family  would  have  suffered.  He  could  brave  any 
degree  of  cold,  and  experience  almost  any  hardship, 
and  not  be  overcome.  Consequently,  he  wallowed 
through  the  snow  to  shoot  deer  and  other  wild  ani 
mals  for  food  ;  and  he  was  successful  in  providing 
food  for  the  family.  He  was  not  a  noted  hunter. 
Although  he  began  to  use  the  rifle  in  boyhood  with 
a  good  deal  of  enthusiasm,  yet  his  love  of  books 
was  so  much  stronger  than  his  love  of  this  sport, 
that  he  seldom  went  hunting  except  when  it  was 
absolutely  necessary  to  obtain  food  for  the  family. 
One  of  his  early  associates  writes  upon  this  subject : 
"  We  seldom  went  hunting  together.  Abe  was  not 
a  noted  hunter,  as  the  time  spent  by  other  boys  in 
such  amusements  was  improved  by  him  in  the 
perusal  of  some  good  book." 

During  that  memorable  winter,  however,  he  be 
haved  like  a  veteran  hunter,  and  kept  the  bear  of 
hunger  at  bay.  The  family  realized  that  they  owed 
much  to  his  devotion  and  remarkable  powers  of 
endurance. 


XIX. 

NEW  FEIENDS. 

«T   S'POSE  you  must  go,"    said   Mr.   Lincoln, 

JL  "  and  I  know  it  is  best."  Abraham  was 
about  leaving  home  to  seek  his  fortune.  It  was 
just  as  the  spring  opened,  after  the  severe  winter 
named  in  the  last  chapter. 

"  If  I  am  ever  going,  it  is  high  time  now.  But 
I  could  n't  go  till  I  saw  you  comfortably  fixed  here." 

"  Well,  we  are  comfortable  now,  and  you  won't 
see  a  better  time  for  it  than  this." 

"  I  think  so." 

"  And  you  are  in  a  good  part  of  the  country  to 
make  a  trial." 

"  Much  better  than  Indiana  would  be." 

"  And  better  still  than  Kentucky,"  added  his 
father. 

"  I  could  n't  live  in  a  Slave  State  anyhow."  He 
had  become  thoroughly  imbued  with  his  father's 
views  and  feelings  in  regard  to  slavery ;  and  his 
own  gene/ous  and  humane  nature  was  sufficient  in 
itself  to  mafes  him  a  foe  to  the  wicked  system. 

"  I  shall  have  your  clothes  ready  by  to-morrow," 


NEW   FRIENDS.  223 

said  his  mother,  who  sat  plying  the  needle  with  all 
her  might,  "  though  I  'd  much  rather  you  would 
wear  'em  up  at  home." 

"  Perhaps  I  should  rather  wear  them  up  here," 
replied  Abraham.  "  It  won't  he  any  easier  for  me 
to  live  anywhere  else." 

u  I  *am  glad  you  think  so."  And  this  was  said 
with  a  good  deal  of  feeling  by  his  step-mother  ;  for 
she  had  learned  to  look  upon  him  witli  about  the 
same  maternal  feeling  that  she  did  upon  her  own 
children. 

Abraham  left  home.  He  had  no  particular  plans 
about  the  future.  He  felt,  however,  that  there  was 
something  in  the  world  for  him  to  do,  and  he  would 
do  it.  So  he  went  forth,  rather  late  in  life  to  begin 
for  himself,  but  possessing  principles  and  elements 
of  character  that  were  more  valuable  to  him  than 
thousands  of  gold  and  silver. 

As  we  have  said,  it  was  just  as  the  spring  opened 
after  the  winter  of  the  "  great  snow."  He  went  into 
the  vicinity  of  Petersburg,  Menard  County,  and 
labored  where  he  could  find  work.  During  that 
summer  and  fall,  he  worked  some  for  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Armstrong,  —  a  poor  man,  somewhat  ad 
vanced  in  life.  Said  Armstrong  had  but  one  child 
living,  —  a  son  about  fourteen  years  of  age  at  that 
time,  uncultivated,  and  not  always  obedient.  His 
parents  had  indulged  him  to  his  injury,  and  they 
were  still  blind  to  their  folly. 


224  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

Abraham  was  so  intelligent,  accommodating,  up 
right,  and  faithful,  that  he  won  the  hearts  of  the 
aged  couple.  They  possessed  three  or  four  old 
volumes  of  books,  and  he  read  them  through  and 
through.  He  borrowed  others,  too,  and  read  them 
in  his  leisure  hours.  He  studied  his  old  arithmetic 
a  little,  also,  and  altogether  was  rather  student-like 
in  his  habits.  He  was  certainly  a  striking  contrast 
with  their  boy. 

"  I  don't  understand  it,"  said  Armstrong  to  his 
wife. 

"  Don't  understand  what  ?  " 

"Why,  how  Abe,  who  was  brought  up  in  the 
backwoods  as  I  was,  should  take  to  books  so." 

The  reader  will  observe  that  his  old  nickname 
stuck  to  him,  though  he  had  left  home. 

"  I  've  thought  of  it  over  and  over.  He  talks 
like  a  schoolmaster." 

"  There  ain't  half  the  schoolmasters  who  can  talk 
as  well  as  he  can.  They  don't  know  half  so  much. 
Then  he  can  be  trusted  with  anything." 

u  Anybody  can  see  that ;  and  I  guess  the  Bible 
is  at  the  bottom  of  it." 

"  It  would  n't  be  strange.  I  never  saw  a  feller 
who  can  repeat  more  of  the  Bible  than  he  can ;  and 
he  respects  it,  too." 

"  He  had  a  good  mother,  too.  I  've  talked  with 
him  about  it,  and  she  must  have  been  a  smart 


NEW  FRIENDS.  225 

"  Ho  's  seen  hard  times,  too.  According  to  his 
story,  he  and  his  lather  both  have  i'ared  worse  than 
we  have." 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  think  it  is  a  fine  thing  that  he  come 
ahont  here  to  live." 

"  That 's  what  I  think ;  and  I  '11  tell  you  what 
I  've  concluded  on,  if  you  are  willin'." 

«  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  it  may  be  that  he  won't  have  work  in 
the  winter,  and  I  've  been  tliinkin'  that  it  would  be 
servin'  him  a  good  turn  to  let  him  stay  here,  and 
make  it  his  home  with  us.  He  's  a  real  scholar, 
and  likes  a  book  better  than  anything,  though  he 
works  better  than  any  man  that  I  ever  hired,  and 
will  do  more  work  in  a  day." 

"  I  shall  agree  to  that,"  answered  Mrs.  Arm 
strong.  "  There  's  no  tellin'  how  much  good  he 
may  do  our  boy.  Then  he  may  be  of  some  use  to 
us,  if  it 's  a  hard  winter." 

"  He  won't  allers  work  round  so,"  continued  Mr. 
Armstrong.  u  He  knows  too  much  for  that.  Re 
member  what  I  tell  you,  —  that  boy  won't  allers 
dig  away  at  this  rate." 

The  proposition  was  made  to  Abraham,  and  he 
accepted  it,  with  the  condition  that  he  would  render 
service  to  the  family  sufficient  to  pay  for  his  board. 
They  consented  to  let  the  matter  stand  so,  though 
they  still  intended  to  do  him  a  favor. 

We  might  say  here,  that  there  was  the  evidence 
10*  o 


226  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

of  rigid  honesty  and  the  desire  to  do  right  in  Abra 
ham's  daily  demeanor,  no  matter  what  he  was  about. 
Wherever  he  went,  people  were  soon  impressed  with 
his  high-toned  principles.  He  was  a  marked  young 
man.  There  was  that  in  his  appearance  that  at 
tracted  attention  at  once. 

All  this  was  manifest  during  that  season  of  his 
residence  near  Petersburg.  The  young  people  who 
became  acquainted  with  him  gave  him  their  confi 
dence  without  hesitation.  They  believed  him  to  be 
a  conscientious,  upright  young  man.  For  this  rea 
son,  they  referred  the  settlement  of  disputes  to  him. 
They  had  confidence  in  his  judgment,  as  well  as  his 
honesty.  Different  sorts  of  games  were  in  vogue  at 
that  time,  and  running-matches  and  horse-racings, 
and  if  Abraham  was  present,  one  party  or  the  other 
was  sure  to  make  him  their  "  judge."  Two  years 
later,  while  he  was  living  in  New  Salem,  he  shared 
the  confidence  of  all  to  such  an  extent  that  both 
parties,  in  the  aforesaid  amusements,  were  wont  to 
choose  him  for  their  "judge."  In  all  cases,  too, 
there  was  the  utmost  satisfaction  shown  in  his  de 
cisions. 

It  was  at  this  period  of  his  life  that  he  was  chris 
tened  "  HONEST  ABE."  It  was  so  unusual  for  the 
same  person  to  act  as  "judge  "  for  both  of  the  con 
tending  parties,  and  it  was  expressive  of  so  much 
confidence  in  his  character,  that  by  common  con- 
Bent  he  came  to  be  known  as  "  HONEST  ABE." 


A  good  book  was  preferable  to  a  good  suit  of  clothes."  —  Page  227. 


NI-:\V  FIUENDS.  227 

He  found  himself  with  his  new  friends  in  their 
log-cabin  when  winter  set  in.  There  he  sits  with 
his  book,  studying  by  the  light  of  the  fire  through 
the  long  winter  evenings,  while  the  aged  couple 
occupy  their  wonted  seats,  the  old  man  huddling 
over  the  fire  as  usual,  and  his  industrious  partner 
looking  the  very  picture  of  cheerfulness.  Abra 
ham's  dress  is  rather  worse  for  the  wear,  —  a  matter 
about  which  he  did  not  particularly  concern  himself. 
A  good  book  was  preferable  to  a  good  suit  of  clothes, 
in  his  view,  and  for  this  reason  he  was  content 
with  his  lot. 

During  the  winter  he  added  several  volumes  to 
his  stock  of  books  by  purchase,  though  his  principal 
object  was  to  pursue  his  arithmetic.  Hitherto  ho 
had  accomplished  little  more  than  to  retain  the 
knowledge  of  the  science  that  he  acquired  at  the 
school  of  Mr.  Crawford.  He  desired  to  pursue 
the  study,  and  master  the  whole  book,  —  a  task 
that  he  successfully  performed. 

The  spring  was  at  hand,  when  one  day  Mr. 
Armstrong  returned  from  a  trip  to  a  neighboring 
town  with  good  tidings  for  Abraham. 

""I  've  seen  a  man,"  lie  said,  "  who  wants  to  hire 
two  or  three  hands  to  help  him  take  a  flat-boat  to 
New  Orleans  ;  and  I  told  him  that  you  would  make 
a  capital  hand,  Abe.  What  do  you  say  to  it  ?  " 

"  I  'm  ready  for  it,  if  he  9s  the  right  sort  of  a 
man,"  answered  Abraham. 


228  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Well,  he  is.  It  is  Den  ton  Offutt,  who  trades  so 
much  up  and  down  the  river.  I  think  he  has  a 
store  and  mill  at  New  Salem." 

"  When  does  he  want  help  ?  " 

"  Just  as  soon  as  the  snow  is  off.  He  is  going 
to  buy  a  boat  at  Beardstown."  This  was  the  port 
of  departure  for  New  Orleans. 

"  I  should  rather  like  the  business,"  continued 
Abraham.  "  I  know  something  about  it,  too.  How 
much  will  he  pay  a  month  ?  " 

"  A  good  price,  I  reckon,  by  what  he  said  ;  and 
he  thought  you  was  just  the  man  for  him,  after  I 
told  him  about  you." 

"  Will  he  come  here  to  see  me  ? "  Abraham 
would  not  lose  the  opportunity,  so  that  he  was 
solicitous  lest  the  chance  might  slip. 

"  Yes ;  he  's  coming  this  way  on  business  in  a  few 
days,  and  lie  '11  give  us  a  call." 

"  There  is  no  doubt  about  it,  is  there  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  think  there  is ;  that  is  what  he  said, 
anyhow." 

"  If  I  thought  ho  would  n't  come,  I  would  go  to 
see  him  at  once.  I  should  like  the  chance,  and  I 
don't  want  to  lose  it." 

"  He  '11  come,  I  've  no  doubt,  after  all  I  told  him 
about  you.  He  's  a  fool,  if  he  don't." 

"  Perhaps  he  won't  think  so,"  said  Abraham, 
rather  amused  at  the  last  remark  of  his  aged  friend. 

Mr.  Offutt  was  good  as  his  word,  and  he  hired 


NEW   FRIENDS.  229 

Abraham  for  fifteen  dollars  a  month,  —  rather  extra 
pay  for  that  time.  But  he  saw  at  a  glance  that  he 
was  just  the  young  man  he  wanted. 

It  was  arranged  that  Abraham  and  the  other 
young  men  whom  Offutt  hired  should  meet  him 
at  Springfield  at  the  time  appointed,  from  whence 
they  would  proceed  to  Beardstown. 

Accordingly,  Abraham  made  ready  for  his  new 
business,  bade  his  kind  friends,  the  Armstrongs, 
good-by,  and  started  off.  It  was  with  a  truly  grate 
ful  heart  that  he  left  the  hospitable  roof  that  had 
afforded  him  friendly  shelter,  and  he  went  forth 
resolved  that  the  kind-hearted  couple  should  not  be 
losers  on  his  account. 

On  reaching  Springfield,  he  found  that  Offutt 
could  not  purchase  a  boat,  as  he  expected,  and 
hence  a  boat  must  be  built  for  the  purpose.  As 
Abraham  could  turn  his  hand  to  almost  anything, 
Offutt  proposed  that  he  should  proceed  to  Sanga- 
mon,  on  the  Sangamon  River,  in  company  with  the 
other  young  men  hired,  and  there  build  a  boat. 
Sangamon  was  near  where  the  Chicago,  Alton,  and 
St.  Louis  Railroad  now  crosses  the  Sangamon  River. 
This  proposition  was  accepted,  and  the  boat  was 
built. 

The  trip  to  New  Orleans  was  made,  and  it  was  very 
successful.  Offutt  was  impressed  with  the  superior 
abilities  of  Abraham.  Mr.  Scripps  says,  "  He  [Abra 
ham]  bore  himself  so  well  throughout,  —  was  so 


230  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

faithful  iii  all  the  trusts  reposed  in  him  by  his 
employer,  —  so  active,  prompt,  and  efficient  in  all 
necessary  labor,  —  so  cool,  determined,  and  full  of 
resources  in  the  presence  of  danger,  —  that  before 
reaching  New  Orleans  Offutt  had  become  greatly 
attached  to  him,  and  on  their  return  engaged  him 
to  take  the  general  charge  of  his  store  and  mill  in 
the  village  of  New  Salem." 

Hence  Abraham  came  on  the  flat-boat  to  New 
Salem,  where  he  was  installed  over  the  mercantile 
interests  of  the  place.  How  well  he  succeeded  will 
appear  in  the  pages  that  follow. 


XX. 

A  MERCHANT'S  CLERK. 

ABRAHAM  soon  became  the  most  important 
man  in  the  place ;  for  in  those  days  the'  mer 
chant  was  second  to  no  man  in  the  community.  In 
this  case,  also,  there  was  an  additional  reason  for 
his  popularity.  For  he  was  one  of  those  social, 
affable,  intelligent  young  men  who  make  friends 
wherever  they  go ;  and,  on  this  account,  he  drew 
around  himself  a  circle  of  ardent  friends,  who  looked 
upon  him  as  the  pride  of  the  village. 

"The  best  fellow  we've  had  in  the  store  yet," 
said  William  Greene,  an  intelligent  young  man,  to 
a  number  of  his  companions ;  "  he  knows  a  thing 
or  two." 

"  I  '11  bet  you  that  is  so,"  replied  Nelson  Day ; 
"  it  is  real  fun  to  hear  him  talk." 

"  And  he  is  so  accommodating  and  straightfor 
ward  !  Mother  says  she  'd  trust  him  with  anything, 
because  he  's  so  honest.  She  paid  him  a  few  cents 
too  much  the  other  day,  and  he  told  her  of  it,  and 
gave  it  back  to  her." 

4i  Not  many  on  'em  who  'd  do  that,"  said  Nelson. 


232  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

"  Everybody  says  that  he  gives  Scripture  weight 
and  measure." 

"  And  he  is  none  of  your  high-fly  gentry,"  added 
William,  "  if  he  does  keop  store.  He  knows  more 
in  a  half  an  hour  than  Offutt's  other  man  did  in  a 
week." 

"  Yes,  and  he  's  drawing  customers  that  have  n't 
traded  there  before,  just  because  he  does  the  thing 
that  is  right.  Everybody  knows  that  he  won't  lie 
nor  cheat ;  and  they  believe  just  what  he  says,  and 
they  like  to  trade  with  him  on  that  account." 

"  Offutt  was  a  fortunate  man  to  get  him  to  keep 
his  store,"  continued  William.  "  It  will  be  money 
in  his  pocket." 

"  And  he  seems  to  attend  to  the  business  just  as 
closely  as  he  would  if  it  was  his  own,"  said  Nelson ; 
"  he  is  there  early  and  late,  and  he  is  allers  readin* 
when  he  has  no  thin*  else  to  do." 

"  That 's  because  he  is  honest,"  replied  William  ; 
"  a  dishonest  clerk  would  n't  care  whether  the  busi 
ness  prospered  or  not,  nor  whether  people  were 
pleased  or  not.  Offutt  is  off  so  much  that  he 
would  n't  know  whether  a  clerk  was  faithful  or 
not,  and  its  lucky  for  him  that  he  hit  upon  Abe 
as  he  did." 

u  And  it 's  about  as  lucky  for  us.  I  tell  you  how 
Jt  is :  that  store  is  now  just  about  the  best  place  to 
go  to  that  there  is  anywhere  about.  Abe  is  the 
greatest  feller  on  stories  that  I  ever  heard,  and 


A   MERCHANT'S    CLERK.  233 

many  of  them  are  real  facts  of  history.  You  ought 
to  hear  him  tell  about  Washington  and  Franklin,  as 
he  did  the  other  day.  He  knows  a  heap  more  about 
them  than  old  'Squire  Jones  ;  and  he  '11  talk  politics 
like  a  member  of  Congress." 

"  And  he  can't  be  beat,  nuthcr,"  said  a  third 
companion.  "  IIow  he  did  use  up  Stokes  and  Park- 
hurst,  the  other  day,  who  think  they  are  great  on 
arguing  !  He  showed  'em  that  they  did  n't  know 
what  they  were  talkin'  about." 

"  How  did  Stokes  bear  it  ?  "  inquired  William. 
"  He  is  a  rabid  fellow,  and  it  would  be  just  like  him 
to  blaze  away  with  madness." 

"  He  did  n't ;  Abe  was  so  pleasant  and  funny 
about  it,  and  topped  off  with  one  of  his  best  stories, 
so  that  Stokes  shook  his  sides  with  laughter." 

"  And  I  heard  him  say,  no  longer  ago  than  yes 
terday,"  said  Nelson,  "  that  Abe  was  a  plaguy  smart 
feller  !  He  likes  him  first-rate." 

"  I  can  see  through  it,"  replied  William.  "  Abe 
is  so  much  of  a  gentleman,  and  keeps  so  cool  him 
self,  and  mixes  in  his  stories  so  nicely,  that  no 
decent  man  can  get  mad.  But  as  Stokes  is  hardly 
decent,  I  did  n't  know  but  lie  might  flare  up,  and 
have  one  of  his  tantrums." 

u  Well,  he  did  n't,  and  you  must  give  him  the 
credit  of  it." 

"  I  will  do  that,  you  may  be  sure." 

"  Nor  forget  to  credit  Abe  with  the  way  ho  has 
of  doing  things,"  added  another. 


234  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

Thus  Abraham  won  the  young  people  of  New 
Salem,  at  the  same  time  that  he  pleased  their  fa 
thers  and  mothers.  He  was  the  centre  of  attrac 
tion  to  the  young  people  of  the  place,  and  they 
really  felt  honored  to  make  his  acquaintance.  They 
looked  up  to  him  as  to  a  superior,  and  sought  his 
advice  on  various  projects  that  young  people  are 
disposed  to  start.  "  Abe's  say  so  "  was  the  upshot 
of  the  matter,  and  it  settled  the  question,  whatever 
it  might  be.  Never  did  a  young  person  of  his  age 
have  more  influence  over  associates  than  he,  and 
the  secret  of  it  is  clear.  First,  they  had  confidence 
in  him,  on  account  of  his  honesty  ;  second,  they 
were  in  love  with  his  knowledge,  acquired  by  the 
careful  improvement  of  his  leisure  time  ;  third,  his 
gentlemanly  bearing  and  courtesy  impressed  them 
favorably. 

As  to  the  confidence  and  respect  that  his  honesty 
won,  too  much  cannot  be  said  of  it.  His  case  fur 
nishes  a  vindication  of  the  following  sentiments  from 
the  Merchant's  Magazine  :  — 

"  Integrity  of  character  and  truth  are  the  pre 
requisites  for  success  in  any  calling,  and  especially 
so  in  that  of  the  merchant.  These  are  attributes 
of  the  man  which  never  fail  to  command  respect 
and  win  admiration.  There  is  no  better  stock  in 
trade  than  these  commodities ;  no  capital  goes  so 
far,  or  pays  so  well,  or  is  so  exempt  from  bank- 


A    MERCHANT'S   CLERK.  235 

ruptcy  and  loss.  When  known,  it  gives  credit  and 
confidence,  and  in  the  hardest  of  times  will  honor 
your  paper  in  bank.  It  gives  you  an  unlimited  cap 
ital  to  do  business  on,  and  everybody  will  indorse 
your  paper,  and  the  general  faith  of  mankind  will 
be  your  guaranty  that  you  will  not  fail.  Let  every 
young  man  in  commencing  business  look  well  to 
these  indispensable  elements  of  success,  and  guard 
and  defend  them  as  he  would  the  apple  of  his  eye. 
If  inattentive  and  reckless  here,  he  will  imperil 
everything.  Bankruptcy  in  character  is  seldom  re 
paired  in  an  ordinary  lifetime.  A  man  may  suffer 
in  reputation,  and  recover,  —  not  so  the  man  who 
suffers  iii  character.  Be  just  and  truthful.  Let  these 
be  the  ruling  and  predominating  principles  of  your 
life,  and  the  rewards  will  be  certain,  either  in  the 
happiness  they  bring  to  your  own  bosom,  or  the 
success  which  will  attend  upon  all  your  business 
operations  in  life,  —  or  both." 

To  return.  Abraham  had  been  engaged  in  this 
new  business  a.bout  three  months,  when  Nelson  Day 
called  at  the  store  to  see  him,  as  he  frequently  did, 
and  found  him  alone. 

"  Readin',  as  usual !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  for  he  found 
his  new  and  valued  friend  poring  over  a  book. 

"  No,  not  exactly  reading,"  replied  Abraham. 
"  This  is  a  grammar  that  I  have." 

"•  Studyin'  grammar,  then  ?  " 


236  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  Yes  ;  I  want  to  know  something  about  it.  I 
never  did." 

"  Nor  I,  and  that  ain't  the  worst  on  't "  ;  and 
Nelson  laughed  as  he  said  it. 

"  Well,  I  intend  to  know  a  little  of  it,"  added 
Abraham.  u  It  is  rather  dry,  but  I  am  determined 
to  master  it,  if  I  can.  I  want,  at  least,  to  discover 
wli ether  I  am  a  common  noun  or  not." 

"  You  're  an  uncommon  noun,  Abe,"  said  Nelson, 
meaning  to  compliment  his  friend,  at  the  same  time 
that  he  got  off  a  pun. 

"  Your  word  for  it." 

"  Of  course,  my  word  for  it.  But  1  am  quite 
sure  that  if  there  is  anything  in  that  book,  you  will 
get  it  out." 

"  But  really,  Nelson,  this  is  a  very  important 
study,  and  I  think  that  every  one  ought  to  under 
stand  it,  if  they  can." 

"  Not  many  know  anything  about  it,"  answered 
Nelson. 

"  And  that  does  not  prove  that  it  is  useless.  There 
are  a  great  many  things  of  importance  that  many 
people  know  nothing  about." 

"  That  's  so  ;  but  most  people  have  got  along 
without  it.  My  father  and  mother  never  studied 
it  in  their  lives,  and  I  never  did,  and  we  've  got 
along  well  enough  so  far  without  it." 

"  Perhaps  you  would  have  got  along  better  with 
it.  I  've  learned  enough  already  to  be.  of  great 
service  to  me,  and  I  intend  to  know  more  yet." 


A    MERCHANT'S   CLERK.  237 

"  But  there  's  a  customer,  and  you  won't  learn 
much  more  now,"  added  Nelson  :  "  down  with  your 
book." 

The  customer  was  promptly  served,  and  the  con 
versation  with  Nelson  suspended  until  the  buyer  left 
the  store. 

"  It  would  be  a  hard  case  for  me,"  said  Nelson, 
when  the  customer  was  gone,  "  to  learn  anything  in 
such  a  place." 

"  You  would  get  used  to  it,"  replied  Abraham, 
"  and  '  Practice  makes  perfect,'  you  know.  Some 
days  I  have  two  or  three  hours  of  leisure  time." 

"  But  it  is  only  a  little  at  a  time.  You  just  get 
at  it,  and  somebody  comes.  I  don't  think  much  of 
that." 

"  We  don't  all  think  alike." 

"  That  's  a  fact ;  I  'm  pretty  sure  that  if  you 
thought  as  I  do,  you  would  n't  be  troublin'  your 
brains  over  that  grammar." 

"  Perhaps  nobody  else  would,  and  the  '  king's 
English  '  would  be  shockingly  murdered.  We 
should  have  another  Babel  almost." 

"  How  is  that  ?  For  the  life  of  me,  I  can't  see  any 
particular  good  that  comes  of  studyin'  grammar." 

u  That  is  because  you  Irnve  not  even  looked  at  the 
definition  of  it.  Grammar  is  the  art  of  speaking 
and  writing  the  English  language  with  propriety. 
And  that  shows  what  good  it  does." 

"  Pcrlvips  it  does." 


238  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Of  course  it  does,  whether  you  can  see  it  or  riot ; 
and  I  am.  willing  to  study  for  it  by  day  and 
night." 

"  I  should  think  it  was  about  enough  to  study  by 
day,  and  let  the  nights  go,"  added  James,  demurely. 

"  There  is  where  we  don't  think  alike  again.  It 
would  take  rne  a  long  time  to  master  this  grammar, 
if  I  should  study  only  my  leisure  moments  in  the 
daytime.  I  have  used  up  from  two  to  three  hours 
over  it  every  night  of  late." 

"  Just  like  you,  Abe." 

"  Just  like  every  poor  fellow  like  me,  who  must 
do  so,  or  know  little  or  nothing.  Dr.  Franklin 
carried  a  book  in  his  pocket,  to  study  when  he 
could,  and  he  kept  one  by  his  side  in  the  printing- 
office  to  read  every  minute  he  had  to  spare." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  Was  you  there  ?  " 
and  Nelson's  roguishness  appeared  in  his  expres 
sive  eye. 

"  Probably,"  answered  Abraham,  in  the  same  vein 
of  remark. 

"But  did  you  ever  read  the  Life  of  Dr.  Frank 
lin  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  several  years  ago  ;  and  if  he  had  not 
done  just  what  you  think  is  quite  foolish,  he  would 
have  made  candles  all  his  life." 

"  And  that  would  be  sheddin'  light  on  the  world, 
I  'm  sure,"  said  Nelson,  with  an  attempt  at  punning. 
"  Lucky  that  somebody  was  willin'  to  make  can 
dles." 


A    MERCHANT'S    CLERK.  239 

"  And  more  lucky  that  Franklin  was  willing  to 
improve  his  leisure  hours  in  study,"  added  Abra 
ham.  "  This  country  is  under  great  obligations  to 
him." 

"  Well,  you  are  talking  about  something  that  I 
don't  understand,  and  so  I  — " 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Garland,"  said  Abraham,  rising  from 
his  seat,  and  stopping  short  the  conversation,  as  an 
acquaintance  entered  with  a  friend.  It  was  a  little 
after  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M. 

"  Mr.  Lincoln,  this  is  Richard  Yates,  whom  I 
have  invited  to  see  you,"  said  Mr.  Garland. 

"  Glad  to  see  him,"  responded  Abraham,  extend 
ing  his  hand,  which  Richard  grasped  with  his 
wonted  cordiality. 

This  was  Richard  Yates,  who  lias  since  been  a 
very  prominent  statesman  of  Illinois,  filling  many 
offices  with  honor  to  himself.  He  has  recently 
been  Governor  of  the  State.  He  was  several  years 
younger  than  Abraham.  The  fact  was,  the  people 
of  New  Salem  were  proud  of  their  "  storekeeper," 
and  they  frequently  took  their  visitors  there  to  see 
him.  This  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Garland. 

"  Come,  Richard,"  he  said,  "  I  '11  go  over  and 
introduce  you  to  a  fine  young  fellow  wo  have  here, 
—  a  smart,  genial,  active  young  fellow,  and  we  '11  be 
sure  to  have  a  good  time."  This  was  precisely  the 
view  that  most  of  the  people  of  New  Salem  had  of 
Abraham.  Sometimes  these  visits  with  strangers 


'240  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

were  a  great  annoyance  and  interruption  to  him. 
They  liked  him  too  well  for  the  most  advantageous 
improvement  of  his  time.  He  thought  too  much 
of  his  leisure  moments  for  study  to  submit  without 
misgivings  to  so  many  interruptions.  Still  his  good 
sense,  urbanity,  courtesy,  and  desire  to  treat  every 
person  with  respect  always  triumphed. 

He  was  soon  engaged  in  close  conversation  with 
Yates  upon  various  subjects,  and  while  they  were 
talking,  Nelson  left  for  home.  Mr.  Garland,  also, 
excused  himself,  and  left  his  young  friend  to  be  en 
tertained  by  Abraham. 

The  dinner-time  arrived  before  they  were  aware 
that  nearly  an  hour  had  passed  since  they  were  in 
troduced  to  each  other.  Abraham  invited  his  new 
acquaintance  to  dine  with  him,  and  they  proceeded 
to  the  house  where  he  boarded,  —  a  low,  rough,  log- 
house. 

"  Aunt  Lizzie,"  said  Abraham,  "  I  have  brought 
some  company  home  to  dinner." 

"  I  'm  glad  of  it,  Abe,  if  you  '11  take  me  as  you 
find  me,"  replied  the  old  lady,  addressing  her  re 
mark  partly  to  Abraham,  and  partly  to  the  visitor. 

"  No  apologies  are  necessary,"  said  Richard. 

"  No,  none  at  all,"  added  Abraham. 

The  dinner  was  on  the  table,  and  it  was  a  very 
plain  one.  There  was  a  plenty  of  bread,  and'  milk 
enough  for  the  company,  and  the  addition  of  another 
bowl  and  spoon  provided  a  dinner  for  visitor  and  all. 


A  MERCHANT'S   CLERK.  241 

There  were  quite  a  number  members  ot  the  fam 
ily,  boarders  and  children,  and  the  aged  matron 
waited  upon  the  table,  pouring  the  milk,  and  pass 
ing  a  brimming  bowl  to  each.  "When  Abraham  was 
waited  upon,  by  some  mishap,  his  bowl  slipped  and 
rolled  over  upon  the  floor,  dashing  it  to  pieces,  and 
covering  the  floor  with  its  contents. 

"  0  dear  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  old  lady,  in  great 
trouble  ;  u  that  was  all  my  fault." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  said  Abraham. 

"  It  surely  was,"  she  answered.  "  I  am  so  care 
less." 

"  Well,  Aunt  Lizzy,  we  '11  not  discuss  whose  fault 
it  is,"  continued  Abraham ;  "  only  if  it  don't  trou 
ble  you,  it  don't  trouble *me." 

"  That  's  you,  Abe,  sure,"  replied  Aunt  Lizzy. 
"  You  're  ready  to  comfort  a  body." 

"  A  very  good  trait,"  said  Richard,  who  was  both 
amused  and  enlightened  by  the  accident. 

"  Never  mind,  Aunt  Lizzy,"  continued  Abraham, 
"  you  have  the  worst  of  it ;  but  I  am  really  sorry 
that  your  bowl  is  broken.  I  don't  care  so  much  for 
the  milk,  as  there  is  a  plenty  more  where  that  came 
from.  Much  worse  things  happen  sometimes." 

By  this  time  Aunt  Lizzy  had  another  bowl  filled 
for  Abraham,  and  the  company  proceeded  to  eat 
their  dinner,  while  the  old  lady  gathered  up  the 
fragments  of  the  broken  bowl,  and  wiped  up  tho 
floor. 

11  F 


242  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

Here  Abraham  exhibited  a  trait  of  character  for 
which  hq  was  distinguished  from  boyhood.  He  dis 
liked  to  make  trouble  for  any  one,  and  wanted  to 
see  all  persons  at  ease.  Hence  lie  was  accommo 
dating,  never  disposed  to  find  fault,  inclined  to 
overlook  the  mistakes  and  foibles  of  others.  Also, 
his  readiness  to  assist  the  needy,  and  comfort  the 
distressed  and  unfortunate,  proceeded  in  part  from 
this  quality.  It  was  made  up  of  gentlemanly  bear 
ing,  affability,  generosity,  and  a  true  regard  for  the 
welfare  and  happiness  of  others.  A  rare  character 
is  this,  though  it  is  always  needed,  and  is  popular 
wherever  it  is  appreciated. 

We  were  absorbed  in  the  discussion  of  Abraham 
and  Nelson  about  the  grammar,  and  were  inter 
rupted  by  the  arrival  of  Richard,  in  consequence 
of  which  the  conversation  was  broken  off.  We  will 
only  add,  that  Abraham  became  a  very  good  gram 
marian  by  dint  of  perseverance.  He  did  not  cast 
aside  the  old  grammar  until  he  had  mastered  it, 
and  it  was  all  accomplished  while  he  was  the  most 
faithful  clerk  that  the  store  in  New  Salem  ever 
had.  He  found  time  enough  at  odd  moments  dur 
ing  the  day,  and  took  enough  out  of  his  sleeping 
hours  at  night,  within  the  space  of  a  few  months,  to 
acquire  all  the  knowledge  of  grammar  that  he  ever 
possessed. 

We  should  say,  however,  that  his  companion, 
William  Greene,  rendered  him  assistance  in  this 


A   MERCHANT'S   CLERK.  243 

study.  William  had  some  knowledge  of  grammar, 
and  he  cheerfully  aided  Abraham  all  that  he  could. 
The  latter  always  said  that  William  taught  him 
grammar,  although  William  still  affirms  "  that  he 
seemed  to  master  it,  as  it  were,  by  intuition." 

It  is  probable  that  this  old  grammar  laid  the 
foundation,  in  part,  of  Abraham's  future  character. 
It  taught  him  the  rudiments  of  his  native  language, 
and  thus  opened  the  golden  gate  of  knowledge. 
There  is  much  in  his  experience  at  this  point  to 
remind  us  of  that  of  Alexander  Murray,  the  world- 
renowned  linguist.  His  father  was  too  poor  to  send 
him  to  school,  or  to  provide  him  with  books.  The 
Bible  and  a  catechism  containing  the  alphabet  wero 
all  the  volumes  in  the  family,  and  the  latter  Alex 
ander  was  not  allowed  to  see  except  on  the  Sabbath. 
During  the  week  his  father  would  draw  the  letters 
on  the  back  of  an  old  wool-card  "  with  the  black  end 
of  an  extinguished  heather-stem  or  root,  snatched 
from  the  fire."  In  this  way  he  learned  the  alphabet, 
and  became  a  reader.  At  twelve  years  of  age  a 
friend  presented  him  with  a  copy  of  Salmon's  Gram 
mar,  which  he  mastered  in  an  incredibly  short  pe 
riod  ;  and  here  commenced  his  progress  in  earnest. 
He  borrowed  a  Latin  grammar,  and  mastered  it. 
Then  a  French  grammar  was  studied  with  success. 
Then  the  Greek  was  taken  in  hand,  and  thus  on  till 
all  the  Oriental  and  Northern  languages  were  famil 
iar  to  him.  And  the  study  of  Salmon's  Grammar 


244  THE    PIOXKER    liOY. 

laid  the  foundation  for  all  this.  That  was  the  key 
to  the  vast  treasures  of  knowledge  that  were  opened 
before  him.  By  making  himself  master  of  that,  he 
unlocked  the  temple  of  wisdom. 

And  so  the  grammar  that  Abraham  studied  ex 
erted  a  great  influence  upon  his  character  and 
destiny. 


XXI. 

CAPTAIN  IN  THE  BLACK-HAWK  WAB. 

EARLY  in  the  following  spring  the  Black-Hawk 
War  broke  out,  and  the  Governor  of  Illinois 
called  for  four  regiments  of  volunteers. 

"  I  shall  enlist,"  said  Abraham  to  his  intimate 
friend  and  companion,  William  Greene,  as  soon  as 
the  news  reached  New  Salem. 

"  So  shall  I,  if  you  do,"  answered  William.  He 
was  several  years  younger  than  Abraham. 

"  Well,  I  shall  do  it.  Black  Hawk  is  one  of  the 
most  treacherous  Indians  there  is,  and  I  hope  he 
will  be  shot.  It  is  not  more  than  a  year  ago,  nor 
hardly  that,  that  he  entered  into  a  treaty  to  keep 
his  people  on  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
now  he  has  crossed  to  make  war  on  the  whites." 

"  Just  like  an  Indian,"  replied  William.  "The 
only  way  to  keep  them  in  their  place  is  to  show 
them  no  quarter." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,  though  I  am  certain 
that  we  have  got  to  fight  Black  Hawk  to  save  our 
selves.  He  is  a  cunning,  artful  warrior,  and  deter 
mined  to  massacre  all  the  whites  he  can." 


246  THE  PIONEER   B01. 

"1  'm  ready  to  fight  him  for  one,"  continued 
William ;  "  and  what  do  you  say  to  raising  a  com 
pany  here  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  it,  if  we  can." 

"  I  think  we  can.     We  can  try  it,  anyhow." 

"  Who  will  enlist,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"Almost  everybody;  it  's  only  for  thirty  days, 
you  know." 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  don't  believe  that  thirty  days  will 
finish  the  war.  I  shall  go  and  enlist  to-morrow, 
whether  it  is  for  thirty  days  or  thirty  months." 

"  And  I  '11  go  with  you  ;  and  then  we  '11  see  what 
can  be  done  about  raising  a  company." 

"  We  shall  have  to  get  permission  to  do  that," 
said  Abraham. 

"  It  will  be  given  fast  enough.  Let  us  see  about 
it  when  we  enlist." 

Recruiting-offices  were  opened  in  various  places, 
though  there  was  none  at  New  Salem.  Abraham 
expected  to  go  to  a  neighboring  town  to  enlist.  But 
the  subject  was  talked  over  that  night,  and  it  was 
concluded  to  apply  for  the  privilege  of  raising  a 
whole  company  in  New  Salem,  in  which  case  a  re 
cruiting-office  would  be  opened  there. 

Abraham  put  his  whole  soul  into  the  work.  He 
conferred  with  his  employer,  and  the  latter  readily 
released  him  from  further  engagements  to  him,  that 
he  might  gratify  his  patriotic  desires.  A  general 
enthusiasm  was  inspired  in  consequence,  and  the 


CAPTAIN   IK   THE   BLACK-HAWK   WAR.  247 

whole  town  became  fired  with  military  ardor.  En 
listments  progressed  rapidly.  Abraham's  example, 
iu  being  the  first  one  to  enlist,  became  the  theme 
of  remark,  and  it  encouraged  others  to  enroll  their 
names  in  that  time  of  peril.  Nearly  every  one  of 
his  companions  were  foremost  among  the  patriots. 
Within  a  few  days  the  company  was  full. 

Now  the  choice  of  officers  must  be  decided,  —  a 
very  important  part  of  the  enterprise,  —  much  more 
important,  in  some  respects,  than  the  enlistments. 
The  efficiency  of  the  company  would  depend,  in  a 
great  measure,  upon  its  officers. 

"  There  's  no  question  about  it,"  said  the  father 
of  young  Greene,  "  Abe  is  altogether  the  best  man 
for  captain."  This  was  not  said  in  Abraham's  pres 
ence,  but  was  addressed  to  a  number  of  the  com 
pany. 

"  That 's  it,"  answered  a  number  of  voices.  The 
suggestion  was  adopted  at  once. 

"  I  doubt  whether  he  '11  accept,"  suggested  one. 
"  If  he  '11  serve,  he  can  have  every  vote." 

u  Of  course  he  can,"  said  William.  "  Every  man 
will  be  proud  to  make  him  captain  ;  but  he  must  n't 
know  it  till  we  choose  him." 

"  Why  ?  "  inquired  one  of  the  number. 

"  Because  he  '11  declare  right  up  and  down  that 
he  won't  serve,  if  we  tell  him  what  we  are  going  to 
do.  He  's  so  modest,  that  he  '11  think  somebody 
else  will  do  much  better." 


248  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Well,  then,  you  must  keep  the  matter  close," 
said  William's  father,  "  but  have  a  fair  understand 
ing  among  yourselves.  Whisper  the  matter  about, 
go  that  every  vote  will  be  right." 

"  And  what  if  he  won't  accept  then  ?  "  asked  one 
of  the  aforesaid  speakers. 

"  He  must ;  we  won't  let  him  off  anyhow,  when 
he  is  elected.  We  will  press  him  into  the  service," 
answered  William. 

Thus  the  matter  was  discussed  and  arranged,  and 
Abraham  was  kept  in  the  dark  as  to  their  intentions. 
The  time  for  electing  officers  was  appointed.  More 
than  once  Abraham  conversed  with  some  of  his 
companions  about  the  fitness  of  this  and  that  man 
for  an  office  ;  but  he  did  not  dream  of  their  pur 
pose  to  give  him  the  command  of  the  company.  His 
companions  amused  themselves  over  their  success  in 
keeping  the  purpose  of  the  volunteers  a  secret. 

The  election  took  place,  and  every  vote  was  cast 
for  Abraham  as  captain.  He  was  taken  by  surprise. 
He  scarcely  knew  what  to  think  or  say.  He  was  on 
the  point  of  declining  to  serve  ;  but  the  rousing 
cheers  that  arose  drowned  his  voice.  At  length, 
however,  he  was  assured  that  the  company  would 
not  allow  him  to  decline,  and  he  very  reluctantly 
consented  to  command  them. 

"  Captain  Lincoln,  your  honor !  "  said  William 
Greene,  bowing  to  him,  in  a  humorous  way,  after 
his  election. 


CAPTAIN    IN    THE   BLACK-HAWK    WAR.  249 

"  None  of  your  fun  at  my  expense,"  replied 
Abraham,  who  received  the  greeting  with  the  same 
good  feeling  with  which  it  was  tendered 

"  We  shall  have  the  tallest  captain,"  suggested 
another. 

"  In  more  senses  than  one,  too,"  added  William, 
with  as  roguish  a  twinkle  of  the  eye  as  was  ever 
witnessed. 

Thus  the  affair  passed  off  pleasantly,  and  no  mil 
itary  company  was  ever  more  harmonious  and 
happy  in  the  choice  of  a  captain,  than  was  this 
company  at  New  Salem.  The  truth  was,  they  were 
proud  of  their  young  captain. 

Of  course  his  promotion  was  the  subject  of  much 
conversation  in  the  town,  and  some  rather  large 
stories  were  told  about  his  abilities.  Among  them 
was  the  following,  which  was  no  larger  than  the 
facts  warranted,  though  it  seemed  extravagant  to 
the  person  addressed.  Young  Greene  was  in  con 
versation  with  a  stranger  to  Abraham,  and  Greene 
said,  "  He  is  the  strongest  man  in  Illinois." 

"  I  don't  believe  that,"  the  stranger  replied  ; 
and  he  named  some  one  who  was  stronger,  in  his 
opinion. 

"  How  much  will  he  lift  ?  "  asked  Greene. 

"  He  '11  lift  a  barrel  of  flour." 

"  Abe  will  lift  two,  if  he  could  get  hold  of  them." 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  "  laughed  the  man.     "  You  can 
tell  a  greater  story  than  I  can." 
11  * 


250  THE    PIONEER    BOY. 

"  Great  story  or  not,  I  will  bet  that  Abe  will  lift 
a  barrel  of  whiskey  holding  forty  gallons,  and  drink 
out  of  the  bunghole." 

"  Worse  yet,"  replied  the  man.  "I'll  bet  he 
can't  do  any  such  thing." 

"  What  will  you  bet  ?  " 

"  I  '11  bet  a  good  hat ;  and  we  '11  have  him  try 
right  off,  if  he  will." 

"  Agreed,"  said  Greene.  The  truth  was,  he  had 
seen  Abraham  do  this  very  thing,  minus  the  drink 
ing  part,  so  that  he  knew  he  should  win. 

Without  delay  they  proceeded  to  the  store  where 
Abraham  was,  and  made  known  their  errand. 

"  I  don't  think  much  of  the  betting  part,"  said 
Abraham,  "  but  I  guess  I  '11  help  William  out  of  the 
affair,  though  he  won't  have  a  chance  to  wear  the 
hat  yet  awhile,  if  he  is  going  to  war  with  me." 

"  Well,  if  you  can  do  what  he  says  you  can,  I 
want  to  see  it,"  said  the  man. 

"  You  shall  have  the  privilege,"  answered  Abra 
ham. 

At  once  he  proceeded  to  perform  the  feat,  and 
accomplished  it  with  seeming  ease.  The  barrel  was 
raised,  as  another  man  might  lift  a  ten-gallon  keg, 
and  a  quantity  of  liquor  taken  from  the  bunghole. 

"  There  it  is  !  "  exclaimed  Greene.  "  But  that  is 
the  first  dram  I  ever  saw  you  drink  in  my  life, 
Abe." 

The  words  had  scarcely  escaped  his  lips,  before 


CAPTAIN   IN   THE   BLACK-HAWK   WAR.  251 

Abraham  sat  down  the  barrel,  and  spirted  the  whis 
key  that  was  in  his  mouth  upon  the  floor,  at  the 
same  time  replying,  "  And  I  have  n't  drank  that, 
you  see." 

Greene  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh  at  this  turn  of 
the  affair,  and  added,  "  You  are  bound  to  let  whis 
key  alone,  Abe." 

And  this  same  Greene  writes  to  us :  "  That  was 
the  only  drink  of  intoxicating  liquor  I  ever  saw  him 
take,  and  that  he  spirted  out  on  the  floor." 

The  stranger  was  satisfied,  as  well  as  astonished. 
He  had  never  seen  the  like  before,  and  he  doubted 
whether  he  ever  should  again.  He  did  not  know 
that  the  whole  life-discipline  through  which  the 
young  captain  had  passed  was  suited  to  develop 
muscular  strength.  Probably  he  did  not  care, 
since  there  was  the  actual  deed. 

We  are  interested  in  it  mostly  for  the  determina 
tion  it  showed  to  reject  whiskey.  The  act  was  in 
keeping  with  all  his  previous  temperate  habits. 

On  the  evening  after  this  affair,  Abraham  was 
alone  with  his  friend  William  Greene,  who  won  the 
aforesaid  hat,  and  he  said  to  him,  "  William,  are 
you  in  the  habit  of  betting  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  never  bet  before  in  my  life,  never." 

"  Well,  I  never  would  again,  if  I  was  you.  It  is 
what  unprincipled  men  will  do,  and  I  would  set  my 
face  against  it." 

"  I  did  n't  see  anything  very  bad  in  this  bet,"  said 
William. 


252  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  All  bets  are  alike,"  answered  Abraham,  "  though 
you  may  not  have  any  bad  motives  in  doing  it.'* 

"  I  only  wanted  to  convince  the  man  that  you 
could  lift  the  barrel." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  I  want  you  should  promise  me 
that  you  will  never  bet  again.  It  is  a  species  of 
gambling,  and  nothing  is  meaner  than  that." 

"  I  don't  suppose  I  ever  shall  do  it  again." 

"  I  want  you  should  promise  me  that  you  won't," 
continued  Abraham,  with  increased  emphasis.  "  It 
will  please  your  mother  to  know  of  so  good  a  reso 
lution." 

"  I  will  promise  you,  Abe,"  answered  William, 
grasping  his  hand,  while  tears  glistened  in  his  eyes. 
And  there  was  true  seriousness  in  this  transaction, 
more  than  might  appear  to  the  reader  at  first  view. 
The  youth  who  thus  pledged  himself  to  Abraham 
writes  to  us  now,  in  his  riper  years  :  "  On  that  night, 
when  alone,  I  wept  over  his  lecture  to  me,  and  I 
have  so  far  kept  that  solemn  pledge." 

The  New  Salem  company  went  into  camp  at 
Beardstown,  from  whence,  in  a  few  days,  they 
marched  to  the  expected  scene  of  .conflict.  When 
the  thirty  days  of  their  enlistment  had  expired, 
however,  they  had  not  seen  the  enemy.  They  were 
disbanded  at  Ottawa,  and  most  of  the  volunteers 
returned.  But  a  new  levy  being  called  for,  Abra 
ham  re-enlisted  as  a  private.  Another  thirty  days 
expired,  and  the  war  was  not  over.  His  regiment 


CAPTAIN  IN  THE  BLACK-HAWK   WAR.  253 

was  disbanded,  and  again,  the  third  time,  he  volun 
teered.  He  was  determined  to  serve  his  country  as 
long  as  the  war  lasted.  Before  the  third  term  of  his 
enlistment  had  expired,  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe  was 
fought,  which  put  an  end  to  the  war. 

He  returned  home.  "  Having  lost  his  horse,  near 
where  the  town  of  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  now  stands, 
he  went  down  Rock  River  to  Dixon  in  a  canoo. 
Thence  he  crossed  the  country  on  foot  to  Peoria, 
where  he  again  took  canoe  to  a  point  on  the  Illinois 
River,  within  forty  miles  of  home.  The  latter  dis 
tance  he  accomplished  on  foot." 

One  who  served  under  him  in  the  New  Salem 
company  writes,  that  lie  was  a  universal  favorite  in 
the  army,  that  he  was  an  efficient,  faithful  officer, 
watchful  of  his  men,  and  prompt  in  the  discharge 
of  duty,  and  that  his  courage  and  patriotism 
shrank  from  no  dangers  or  hardships. 


XXII. 

PLANS  AND  PEOGEESS. 

IT  was  pleasant  for  Lincoln  to  be  with  his  old 
friends  again,  and  they  did  not  fail  to  express 
their  interest  in  his  welfare.  Many  of  them  de 
lighted  to  show  him  honor  by  calling  him  Captain 
Lincoln.  It  was  a  mark  of  respect  which  they  loved 
to  show,  as  they  thought  of  his  patriotism  and  cour 
age.  His  boon  companions,  however,  called  him 
by  the  old  name  Abe.  But  there  was  a  higher 
honor  in  reserve  for  him.  No  sooner  had  he  re 
turned  from  the  war  than  they  began  to  plan  for 
his  promotion. 

"  Going  to  send  you  to  the  Legislature,"  said  his 
old  friend  Greene  to  him  one  day. 

"  Send  me  to  the  Legislature  !  "  exclaimed  Lin 
coln,  with  wonder*  beaming  all  over  his  face. 

"  Yes,  you ;  and  you  need  n't  be  so  astonished 
about  it.  Perhaps  you  '11  be  a  member  of  Con 
gress  yet." 

"  But  you  are  joking.  Nobody  but  you  young 
fellows  can  be  thinking  of  such  a  thing." 

"I  am  not  joking;  and,  moreover,  I  know  that 


PLANS  AND   PROGRESS.  255 

older  persons  than  we  are  thinking  of  such  a 
thing." 

"  But  it  was  only  yesterday  that  I  heard  John  T. 
Stuart,  Colonel  Taylor,  and  Peter  Cartwright  named 
as  candidates.'' 

"  All  that  may  be,  and  there  may  be  a  half-dozen 
other  candidates  ;  but  we  are  going  to  run  you 
against  the  whole  batch,  unless  you  positively  de 
cline." 

"  You  are  crazy,  William,  and  all  the  rest  of  you 
who  entertain  such  a  thought.  What !  run  me, 
nothing  but  a  strapping  boy,  against  such  men  of 
experience  and  wisdom !  Come,  now,  no  more 
of  your  gammon." 

"  Then  you  won't  believe  me  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  say  so." 

"  Well,  believe  it  or  not,  you  will  be  waited  upon 
by  older  persons  than  I  am,  to  get  your  consent." 

And,  sure  enough,  he  was  waited  upon  by  several 
of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  New  Salem  within 
twenty-four  hours  thereafter,  to  ask  his  consent  to 
run  as  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature. 

"  It  will  only  subject  me  to  ridicule,"  he  said. 

"  Why  so  ?  "  inquired  one  of  the  number. 

"  For  the  folly  of  running  against  such  men  as 
Stuart  and  Cartwright." 

"  Not  if  you  beat  them." 

"  That  is  impossible.  I  should  not  expect  to  be 
elected,  if  I  should  consent  to  be  a  candidate." 


250  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  answered  one  ;  "  we 
expect  to  elect  you." 

"  But  I  have  lived  in  the  county  only  nine 
months,  and  am  known  only  in  New  Salem,  while 
the  other  candidates  are  known  in  every  part  of  the 
county.  Besides,  it  is  only  a  few  days  before  the 
election,  and  there  is  little  time  to  carry  your 
measures." 

"  Very  true  ;  but  there  is  a  principle  involved  in 
your  nomination,  and  we  shall  sustain  that,  whether 
you  are  elected  or  not." 

Here  was  a  point  of  importance.  There  were  no' 
distinct  political  parties  then  in  the  State,  as  there 
are  now.  But  there  were  "  Jackson  men,"  "  Clay 
men,"  "  Crawford  men,"  and  "  Adams  men."  Abra 
ham  was  a  u  Clay  man,"  while  the  majority  vote  of 
the  county,  at  the  previous  presidential  election,  was 
cast  for  Jackson.  In  these  circumstances  there  was 
little  prospect  that  the  young  candidate  would  be 
elected.  There  were  as  many  as  eight  candidates 
in  all,  but  none  of  them  represented  the  principles 
of  the  "  Clay  men  "  so  fully  as  Abraham. 

Suffice  to  say  that  Abraham  at  last  yielded  very 
reluctantly,  and  became  a  candidate.  He  was  not 
elected ;  but  his  popularity  may  be  learned  from  the 
fact  that  he  stood  next  to  the  successful  candidate, 
and  only  a  few  votes  behind  him.  "  His  own  pre 
cinct,  New  Salem,  gave  him  277  votes  in  a  poll  of 
284,"  —  all  but  7.  No  one  was  more  surprised 


PLANS  AND   PKOGRESS.  257 

than  Abraham  himself.  Although  he  was  not 
elected,  yet,  in  the  circumstances,  it  was  a  great 
triumph. 

"  We  '11  do  it  next  time,"  said  his  old  friend 
Greene.  "  You  see  I  'm  not  quite  so  near  crazy  as 
you  thought  I  was,"  referring  to  their  former  con 
versation. 

"  I  must  confess  that  the  result  is  much  better 
than  I  expected."  This  was  very  true  ;  for  his 
modesty  and  humble  view  of  himself  always  modi 
fied  his  anticipations  of  personal  distinction, — a  very 
good  trait  of  character,  and  necessary  to  success. 

"  Prepare  for  a  great  triumph- next  time,  Abe,  for 
we  shall  certainly  win  it."  And  they  did,  as  we 
shall  see. 

But  we  were  speaking  of  what  happened  after 
Lincoln  returned  from  the  Black-Hawk  War.  The 
result  of  the  aforesaid  election  —  277  votes  out  of 
284  votes  in  New  Salem  cast  for  him  —  showed  that 
the  people  of  the  town  were  decidedly  his  friends. 
He  could  not  doubt  it  longer.  A  majority  of  them 
were  a  Jackson  men,"  and  yet  they  voted  for  him,  a 
"  Clay  man." 

"  I  would  remain  here  if  I  had  any  employment," 
he  said  to  his  old  friend  Greene,  who  knew  that  he 
was  thinking  of  going  elsewhere  to  find  business. 

"  But  you  must  stay  here,"  replied  Greene. 

44  There  is  no  must  about  it,  if  there  is  no  work 
for  me,"  answered  Lincoln. 

Q 


258  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  There  '11  be  enough  that  you  can  do,  only  take 
time  for  it ;  the  world  was  n't  made  in  a  minute." 

"  No ;  I  suppose  it  took  about  six  days,  and 
if  I  can  find  employment  in  that  time,  I  shall  be 
satisfied." 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what  to  do  Abe,  —  STUDY  LAW  : 
you  're  just  the  man  for  it." 

"  Whew !  I  should  laugh  to  see  myself  trying  to 
make  a  lawyer." 

"  Why  not  be  one,  I  should  like  to  know  ?  " 

"  For  the  very  good  reason,  that  I  have  n't  brains 
enough." 

"  Just  what  I  thought  you  would  say.  You  are 
altogether  too  sparing  of  good  opinions  of  your 
self.  You  've  more  brains  than  half  the  lawyers 
in  Illinois." 

"  Perhaps  that  is  n't  saying  much,"  replied  Abra 
ham,  laughing ;  "  although  it  is  a  pretty  handsome 
compliment  on  your  part.  Much  obliged." 

"  Well,  compliment  or  not,  I  have  heard  a  good 
many  people  say  that  you  ought  to  be  a  lawyer." 

"  And  I  have  heard  one  propose  that  I  be  a  black 
smith  ;  and  I  suppose  I  could  swing  a  sledge-ham 
mer  equal  to  any  of  them.  And,  seriously,  I  have 
had  some  thoughts  of  choosing  that  trade." 

"And  throw  away  your  talents  ?  Any  fool  could 
be  a  blacksmith." 

"  By  no  means.  No  man  can  be  successful  in 
anything  unless  he  is  industrious,  and  has  common 
sense,  and  a  good  share  of  perseverance." 


PLANS  AND   PROGRESS.  259 

"  That 's  so,  I  s'pose  ;  but  a  blacksmith  is  the 
last  thing  I  would  be,  if  I  were  in  your  place.  I 
would  like  to  know  who  ever  suggested  such  an 
idea  to  you." 

"  My  father,  several  years  ago  ;  and  less  than 
five  years  ago  I  came  within  an  ace  of  putting 
his  advice  into  practice.  I  almost  decided  to  go  at 
it  for  life." 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  "  laughed  his  friend,  heartily. 
"  Would  n't  you  cut  a  dash,  doffing  a  leathern 
apron,  and  blowing  the  blacksmith's  bellows,  like 
another  Jake  Smutty  face,  as  they  used  to  call  Jake 
Tower." 

"  An  honest  calling,"  answered  Lincoln ;  "  and 
that  is  the  main  thing.  A  lawyer  can  look  a  little 
more  spruce  than  a  son  of  Vulcan,  to  be  sure  ;  but 
a  blacksmith  can  be  just  as  upright,  if  not  a  little 
more  so." 

"  And  what  do  you  mean  by  '  a  little  more  so '  ?  " 
asked  Greene. 

"  Why,  don't  you  know  that  nearly  everybody 
suspects  lawyers  of  trickery,  —  doing  anything  for 
a  fee,  blowing  hot  or  cold  for  the  sake  of  a  case,  — 
shielding  the  meanest  culprits  as  readily  as  they  do 
the  best  men,  —  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  ?  " 

"  Not  quite  so  bad  as  that,  Abe.  I  know  that 
lawyers  are  not  over  particular,  and  that  is  true 
of  a  good  many  folks  who  are  not  lawyers.  If  you 
won't  follow  a  calling  because  there  are  scapegraces 
in  it,  you  will  not  choose  one  right  away." 


260  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

"  Perhaps  so  ;  but  no  man  lias  any  more  right  to 
defend  the  wrong  because  he  is  a  lawyer  than  he  has 
because  he  is  a  blacksmith,  in  my  way  of  thinking." 

"  I  give  it  up,  Abe  ;  you  've  got  the  case  already, 
and  I  am  more  convinced  than  ever  that  you  ought 
to  study  law." 

"  That  is,  if  you  are  judge  and  jury,"  responded 
Lincoln.  "  But  I  don't  understand  why  it  is  that 
people  are  determined  I  shall  be  a  lawyer.  As 
many  as  ten  months  ago,  two  or  three  people  gave 
me  the  same  advice,  though  I  thought  they  were 
half  in  joke." 

"  Well,  Abe,  perhaps  you  '11  get  your  eyes  open,  if 
you  live  long  enough,  to  see  what  you  ought  to  be," 
said  Greene,  in  a  strain  of  pleasantry.  "  Not  many 
folks  live  that  have  to  go  to  their  neighbors  to  find 
out  what  they  are.  By  the  time  you  are  seven  feet 
high,  perhaps  you  will  understand." 

"  1  should  think  I  was  pretty  near  that  now,  by 
what  people  say,"  archly  replied  Lincoln. 

"  I  think  you  are  in  a  fair  way  to  be,  if  you  keep 
on." 

"  And  I  shall  be  a  lawyer  by  that  time,  and  not 
before."  And  here  they  parted. 

Lincoln  had  no  intention  of  being  a  lawyer,  after 
all  that  his  friends  had  suggested.  He  had  no  con 
fidence  in  his  abilities  for  that  profession.  Indeed, 
he  could  not  see  how  a  young  man  reared  as  he 
was  could  expect  to  enter  upon  such  a  calling. 


PLANS  AND  PROGRESS.  261 

Yet  he  longed  for  some  permanent  pursuit,  —  a 
life-vocation.  He  did  not  like  this  going  from  one 
thing  to  another,  and  he  only  did  it  from  sheer 
necessity.  He  believed  that  a  young  man  should 
choose  a  calling,  and  stick  to  it  with  unwearied  de 
votion,  if  he  would  make  anything  in  the  world. 
He  wanted  to  do  this  ;  but  what  should  he  choose  ? 
He  was  perplexed,  troubled,  and  the  more  so,  be 
cause  admiring  friends  advised  him  to  do  what 
he  really  supposed  was  beyond  his  ability.  He 
underrated  his  talents,  (a  very  good  failing,)  and 
all  the  time  thought  that  others  were  overrating 
them.  Few  youth  and  young  men  suffer  in  this 
way.  Thqy  are  more  apt  to  injure  themselves  by 
too  exalted  views  of  their  talents.  Some  of  the 
veriest  simpletons  esteem  themselves  as  the  wisest 
and  greatest  men.  Ignorance  is  more  likely  to  be 
vain  and  proud  than  ripe  talents  and  learning. 
True  knowledge  is  humble.  Great  talents  are 
marked  by  humility.  And  so  young  Lincoln  did 
not  stand  so  high  in  his  own  estimation  as  he  did 
in  the  estimation  of  others.  This  was  the  case  with 
Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  Nathaniel  Bowditch,  Ark- 
wright,  Franklin,  Washington,  and  many  others. 
From  their  youth,  they  were  devoid  of  that  vain 
self-confidence  which  many  shallow-brained  people 
possess. 

Lincoln  did  not  leave  town.     In  company  with 
another  man,  he   bought  the  store  of  Oifutt,  and 


262  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

went  into  business  again.  It  was  at  this  stage  of 
his  career  that  he  adopted  a  plan  of  improvement 
worthy  of  notice.  As  usual,  he  devoted  all  his  spare 
moments  to  reading,  and  now  he  adopted  the  plan 
of  writing  out  a  synopsis  of  each  book  he  read. 
This  would  fix  the  contents  of  the  volume  in  his 
mind,  and  prove  far  more  profitable.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that  this  exercise  exerted  a  most 
beneficial  influence  upon  his  habits  of  thought  and 
study.  It  is  a  practice  that  the  young  generally 
ought  to  adopt,  as  necessary  to  the  highest  improve 
ment. 

Within  a  few  months,  however,  he  sold  out  to  his 
partner,  believing  that  they  could  not  make  the 
enterprise  profitable. 

He  had  but  just  relinquished  the  store  business, 
when  he  unexpectedly  met  John  Calhoun  of  Spring 
field.  Since  that  time,  Calhoun  has  been  notorious 
for  his  efforts  to  enslave  Kansas.  He  was  President 
of  the  Lecompton  Constitutional  Convention.  But 
when  he  met  Abraham,  at  the  time  mentioned,  he 
was- engaged  in  a  more  legitimate  and  honorable 
business,  —  that  of  Surveyor  for  Sangamon  County 

"  Try  your  hand  at  surveying,"  said  Calhoun. 

"  I  know  nothing  about  it." 

"  Learn  then." 

"  How  can  I  do  that." 

"  Easy  enough,  if  you  want  to  do  it." 

"  I  do  want  to  do  it.  I  think  I  should  like  the 
business,  if  I  could  qualify  myself  for  it." 


PLANS   AND   PROGRESS.  263 

"  You  can,  and  in  a  few  weeks,  too.  I  will  loan 
you  Flint  and  Gibson,  the  authors  you  will  want  to 
study,  and  you  can  provide  yourself  with  a  compass 
and  chain,  and  I  will  render  you  any  assistance  I 
can." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Mr.  Calhoun,  and  I  will  do 
the  best  I  can.  Your  generous  offer  shall  not  come 
to  nothing  for  the  want  of  my  trying." 

"  You  '11  make  a  good  surveyor,  I  'm  sure  of 
that,  and  find  plenty  of  business.  And,  what  is 
more,  I  will  depute  to  you  that  portion  of  my  field 
contiguous  to  New  Salem." 

"  It  is  more  than  I  could  expect  of  you,"  said 
Lincoln.  "  I  could  not  ask  so  great  a  favor." 

"  Take  it  without  asking,"  said  Calhoun,  in  a  jolly 
way.  "  I  have  much  more  than  I  can  do,  and  I  am 
glad  to  give  you  a  portion  of  the  county.  The 
great  influx  of  immigrants,  and  the  consequent  en 
try  of  government  lands,  has  given  me  more  than 
iny  hands  full." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  accept  your  offer  as  soon  as  I 
am  qualified  for  the  business." 

"  The  bargain  is  closed,  then,  and  in  four  weeks 
you  can  be  surveying,  if  you  're  a  mind  to,"  said 
Calhoun. 

"  I  shall  have  a  mind  to,  if  that  is  all,"  replied 
Lincoln  ;  "  and  with  a  thousand  thanks,  too,  for 
your  assistance.  It  is  worth  all  the  more  to  me 
now,  because  I  am  thrown  out  of  business." 


264  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  TV  ell,  this  will  make  business  enough  for  you, 
and  it  needs  a  long-legged,  tough,  wiry  fellow  like 
you  to  ^o  it  well.  This  is  a  great  country  for  sur 
veyors/' 

"  But  shall  I  not  need  to  take  some  lessons  of 
you  in  the  field  ?  " 

"  If  you  please.  It  will  be  a  capital  idea,  and 
you  are  welcome  to  all  I  can  aid  you  any  time  you 
will  come  where  I  am.  It  will  give  you  a  sweat  to 
keep  up  with  me." 

"  Perhaps  so,"  replied  Lincoln,  looking  very  much 
as  if  he  did  not  believe  it.  The  actual  experiment 
proved  that  the  sweat  was  given  to  the  other  party. 

Lincoln  sat  down  to  this  new  study  with  a  keen  rel 
ish,  and,  in  a  short  time,  having  been  some  with  Mr. 
Calhoun  in  the  field,  he  was  prepared  to  set  up  the 
business  of  a  surveyor.  With  his  usual  thorough 
ness  and  energy,  he  engaged  in  the  business,  and 
proved  himself  a  workman  that  needeth  not  bo 
ashamed. 

Now  he  had  an  employment,  and  a  plenty  to  do. 
The  prospect  was,  that  he  might  follow  this  pursuit 
through  life,  and  probably  his  old  friend  Greene 
concluded  that  an  end  was  put  to  his  becoming  a 
lawyer. 

For  more  than  a  year  he  continued  to  survey 
without  interruption,  and  won  quite  a  reputation  in 
the  business.  A  circumstance,  narrated  in  the  next 
chapter,  brought  an  unexpected  change. 


XXIII. 

SUCCESS  AND  ITS  EESULTS. 

IT  was  the  summer  of  1834,  two  years  after 
Lincoln  was  candidate  for  the  Legislature.  In 
Illinois,  representatives  were  elected  every  two 
years,  so  that  another  election  was  close  by.  Au 
gust  was  the  month  for  it. 

Lincoln  was  not  forgotten.  Since  the  last  elec 
tion  he  had  become  well  known  in  the  county. 
He  had  been  to  war,  and  distinguished  himself. 
He  was  the  first  to  enlist  and  the  last  to  leave.  A 
degree  of  military  glory  was  attached  to  his  name. 
Then  he  was  a  successful  surveyor.  No  one  in 
that  line  of  business  was  more  correct  than  he. 
In  this  regard,  his  prospects  were  very  much  better 
than  they  were  two  years  before. 

"  We  shall  make  a  sure  thing  of  it  this  time, 
Abe,"  said  his  associate,  Greene. 

"  Whether  you  do  or  not  is  not  of  much  con 
sequence  to  me,"  he  replied.  "  I  have  a  good 
business  now,  and  am  satisfied." 

"You've  been  consulted,  I  s'pose,  before  this 
about  it?" 

12 


266  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"Yes,  some  time  ago." 

"  Consented,  of  course?" 

"  Yes." 

"Enough  said.  That's  all  we  want  of  you: 
we  can  do  the  rest.' 

"  So  you  thought  before." 

"  There  's  more  reason  to  think  so  now." 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"  You  've  been  to  war,"  said  Greene,  with  a  sig 
nificant  glance  of  the  eye.  "  You  know  they  make 
great  men  out,  of  military  heroes." 

"  You  mean  those  of  them  who  possess  something 
to  make  greatness  out  of  it." 

"  Just  as  you  please.  But  don't  you  want  the 
office,  Abe  ? " 

"  I  am  not  particular  about  it.  I  do  not  want  it 
enough  to  work  for  it.  If  my  friends  see  fit  to  give 
it  to  me,  I  shall  accept  it,  and  do  the  best  I  can." 

"  I  did  n't  expect  you  would  ever  make  a  poli 
tician,  Abe ;  there  's  not  cheat  enough  about  you 
for  that.  But,  really  now,  I  should  think  you 
would  jump  at  the  chance  ?  " 

"  Chance  of  what  ?  the  chance  of  getting  beat  ?  " 

"  No  ;  the  chance  of  becoming  a  legislator." 

"  Time  enough  to  jump  at  that  when  I  get  it." 

"  It 's  as  certain  as  the  rule  of  three,  Abe." 

"  We  can  settle  that  point  after  election." 

"  Well,  when  you  get  there,  remember  that  I  am 
a  '  Clay  man '  as  well  as  yourself." 


SUCCESS   AND   ITS   RESULTS.  2G7 

"  As  to  that,  we  arc  all  clay  men,  if  the  Bible  is 
true,  and  I  expect  it  would  be  much  better  for  us 
to  keep  it  more  in  mind";  and  there  was  not  so 
much  seriousness  in  this  remark  as  might  at  first 
seem.  Lincoln  always  had  much  dry  wit  about 
him,  that  kept  oozing  out. 

"  But,  to  speak  soberly,"  he  continued,  "  there  is 
too  much  trickery  and  underhanded  work  among 
politicians  to  suit  me." 

"  If  there  is  nothing  worse  than  that,"  replied 
Greene,  "  we  are  better  off  than  I  think  we  are." 

"  I  should  think  that  was  bad  enough." 

"  True  ;  but  rascality  is  worse,  and  there  is  plenty 
of  that.  That  is  one  reason  we  want  to  send  you 
to  the  Legislature.  We  shall  be  sure  of  one  decent 
fellow  "  ;  and  this  last  sentence  was  closed  with  an 
uproarious  laugh.  Greene  actually  enjoyed  com 
plimenting  Lincoln,  to  see  the  workings  of  his 
modesty.  There  was  nothing  that  would  put  the 
damper  on  him  so  quickly  as  to  "  thrust  a  compli 
ment  into  the  front  door,"  as  somebody  has  said. 
Greene  knew  this,  and  so  he  rather  enjoyed  it. 
At  the  same  time  he  honored  him  more  on  this 
account. 

The  day  of  election  came,  —  a  bright,  warm, 
pleasant  day  in  August,  —  and  the  voters  of  the 
county  improved  it.  There  was  a  large  vote  polled  ; 
and,  as  the  friends  of  Lincoln  anticipated,  he  was 


208  1HE  PIOXKER    BOY. 

elected  by  a  large  majority.  At  nightfall,  enough 
was  learned  of  the  ballot  to  place  his  election  be 
yond  a  doubt. 

His  friends  were  jubilant.  His  intimate  asso 
ciates  were  full  of  glee.  They  waited  upon  him 
that  night,  to  congratulate  him  upon  the  result. 

"You  see  it  is  done,  Abe,  just  as  I  told  you," 
said  Greene.  "  And  now  you  must  treat." 

"  Of  course  he  must,"  said  Nelson,  looking  towards 
his  companions,  and  the  very  tone  of  his  voice  indi 
cating  that  he  knew  he  would  do  no  such  thing. 

"  Such  times  don't  come  every  day,"  continued 
Greene,  "  and  you  must  treat." 

"  Treat  you  well,  I  suppose,"  answered  Lincoln, 
making  another  use  of  their  language. 

"  Yes,  it  will  be  treating  us  well  to  take  us  over 
to  the  tavern,  and  provide  all  the  whiskey  we  want." 

"  That  would  be  the  worst  kind  of  treatment  that 
1  could  give  you.  I  will  treat  you  better  than 
that,  for  you  deserve  it  after  conferring  such  honor 
upon  me." 

"  Come  on,  then ;  we  go  in  for  good  treatment, 
Abe,"  said  Nelson ;  and  two  of  them  took  hold  of 
him,  one  at  each  arm,  to  march  him  along. 

"  I  shall  do  no  such  thing,"  exclaimed  Lincoln. 
"  I  '11  treat  you  with  a  plenty  to  eat,  and  tea  or 
coffee  to  drink,  but  I  won't  treat  you  with  rum  or 
whiskey.  Look  here,  William,  —  you  go  in  for 
consistent  and  honest  politicians ;  now  give  me  a 
chance.  Let  me  begin  to-day." 


SUCCESS  AND  ITS  RESULTS.         269 

"  After  that  treat,"  answered  Nelson,  not  waiting 
for  William  to  reply. 

"  It  will  have  to  come  before,  if  ever,"  said  Lin 
coln.  "  Rum  has  made  more  politicians  mean  than 
anything  else." 

"  But  we  won't  ask  you  to  drink,  only  treat  us," 
said  one.  "  You  '11  never  be  Governor  till  you  can 
treat." 

"  I  never  want  to  be,  if  that  is  necessary  to  it.  I 
shall  not  do  it,  you  may  depend  on  that." 

"  Then  I  s'pose  we  must  give  it  up,  and  go  dry," 
said  Nelson  to  his  companions ;  "  for  when  Abe  says 
a  thing,  he  means  it." 

"  That 's  a  fact,"  added  Greene.  "  Stick  to  your 
principles,  Abe,  like  a  good  one,  and  we  '11  honor 
you  for  it.  We  are  not  very  dry,  after  all." 

Their  vain  attempt  to  get  a  drink  out  of  their 
friend  on  this  occasion  did  not  diminish  their  re 
gard  for  him.  Indeed,  they  made  the  request  more 
to  annoy  him  than  anything ;  for  they  had  never 
had  an  opportunity  to  drink  with  him.  He  always 
declined  this  custom  of  friendly  intercourse,  and 
they  expected  he  would  at  this  time.  They  honored 
him  all  the  more  for  it,  too,  in  their  hearts.  It  was 
a  regard  for  principle  and  purity,  and  an  exhibition 
of  decision  and  firmness,  that  won  their  respect. 

We  pass  over  the  interim  to  the  assembling  of  the 
Legislature  in  December,  and  shall  devote  neither 
space  nor  time  to  that,  except  to  narrate  the  follow 
ing  fact. 


270  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

It  was  during  the  sitting  of  the  Legislature  that 
Lincoln  decided  to  study  law,  without  waiting  to 
become  seven  feet  high.  It  was  on  this  wise. 

He  was  thrown  much  into  the  society  of  Hon 
John  T.  Stuart,  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  the  State.  This  gentle 
man  was  a  close  observer,  and  he  soon  discovered 
that  young  Lincoln  possessed  unusual  talents.  He 
had  no  doubt  that  he  would  make  his  mark,  if  he 
could  have  the  opportunity;  so  he  embraced  a 
favorable  time  to  advise  him  about  studying  law. 

"  Have  you  ever  thought  of  studying  law  ?  "  Mr. 
Stuart  inquired,  in  a  delicate  manner. 

"  Never,  though  the  subject  has  been  named  to 
me  by  others,"  replied  Lincoln. 

"  And  why  have  you  not  entertained  the  sugges 
tion  favorably  ?  " 

"  Because  I  have  not  talents  enough  to  warrant 
such  a  decision ;  and  then  I  have  no  means,  even 
if  I  had  the  talents." 

"  Perhaps  you  have  too  exalted  views  of  the  abil 
ities  required.  Let  us  see.  Is  there  anything  in 
the  law  so  intricate  as  to  demand  superior  talents  ? 
Does  it  require  more  ability  than  medicine  or  the 
ology  ?  No,  I  think  you  will  say.  And  then,  if  it 
did,  perhaps  the  future  will  reveal  that  you  possess 
the  talents  for  it." 

"  But  then,  a  poor  fellow  like  me,  with  no  friends 
to  aid,  can  hardly  think  of  going  through  a  long 
course  of  study." 


SUCCESS  AND  ITS  RESULTS.         271 

"  It  is  not  very  long  after  all,  and  there  need  not 
be  much  expense  about  it,  except  for  your  board 
and  clothes." 

"  How  can  that  be  ?  " 

"  You  can  read  law  by  yourself,  working  at  your 
business  of  surveyor  enough  to  board  and  clothe 
yourself,  and  in  less  than  three  years  be  admitted  to 
the  bar." 

"  But  books  are  expensive,  especially  law-books." 

"  Very  true  ;  but  that  difficulty  is  easily  remedied. 
You  shall  be  welcome  to  my  library.  Come  as  often 
as  you  please,  and  carry  away  as  many  books  as  you 
please,  and  keep  them  as  long  as  you  please." 

"  You  are  very  generous,  indeed.  I  could  never 
repay  you  for  such  generosity." 

"  I  don't  ask  any  pay,  my  dear  sir,"  responded 
Mr.  Stuart,  shaking  his  sides  with  laughter.  "  And 
if  I  did,  it  would  be  pay  enough  to  see  you  pleading 
at  the  bar." 

"  I  am  almost  frightened  at  the  thought  of  appear 
ing  there,"  added  Lincoln. 

"  You  'd  soon  get  over  your  fright,  I  reckon,  and 
bless  your  stars  that  you  followed  the  advice  of  John 
T.  Stuart." 

"  I  dare  say." 

"  Only  think  of  it,"  continued  Mr.  Stuart,  "  a 
brighter  prospect  is  before  you  than  hundreds  of  dis 
tinguished  men  enjoyed  in  early  life,  on  account  of  the 
advantages  offered  to  you.  You  are  a  4  Clay  man,' 


272  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

and  you  now  have  the  offer  of  better  opportunities 
to  rise  than  he  had  when  he  left  his  mother's  log- 
cabin.  All  the  schooling  he  ever  enjoyed  was  in  his 
boyhood,  when  he  went  to  school  to  Peter  Deacon,  in 
a  log  school-house,  without  a  window  or  floor.  All 
the  learning  he  acquired  after  that  was  got  by  indus 
try  and  perseverance,  improving  every  leisure  mo 
ment,  and  extending  his  studies  far  into  the  night." 

"  I  don't  see  but  he  had  as  good  advantages  in  his 
early  life  as  I  did,"  interrupted  Lincoln. 

"  That  is  so  ;  and  there  is  much  in  your  history 
that  reminds  me  of  his.  I  suppose  that  is  what 
suggested  the  comparison  to  me.  You  have  a  right 
to  be  a  '  Clay  man.'  One  would  scarcely  have 
thought,  when  he  was  seen  riding  his  mother's  old 
horse,  without  a  saddle,  and  with  a  rope  for  a  bridle, 
on  his  way  to  mill  with  a  grist  on  the  horse's  back, 
that  he  —  <  The  Mill-Boy  of  the  Slashes,'  as  he  was 
called  —  would  become  one  of  the  most  renowned 
men  of  the  land." 

"  That  is  so  ;  and  I  admire  the  man  for  his  noble 
efforts  to  rise  in  the  world.  He  made  himself  just 
what  he  became,"  said  Lincoln. 

"  And  that  is  what  you,  and  every  other  young 
man,  will  do,  if  you  ever  make  a  mark.  <  Self-made, 
or  never  made,'  is  the  adage.  It  is  of  little  conse 
quence  what  advantages  a  youth  possesses,  unless  he 
is  disposed  to  improve  them  ;  and  I  am  almost  of 
the  opinion  that  it  matters  but  little  how  few  the 


SUCCESS  AND  ITS  RESULTS.         273 

privileges  a  young  man  enjoys,  if  he  only  has  the 
energy  and  industry  to  make  the  most  of  them." 

"  And  the  ability,  you  might  add,"  said  Lincoln. 

"  Perhaps  so,  if  you  choose.  But  the  history  of 
our  country  abounds  with  examples  of  these  self- 
made  men,  as  poor  and  unknown  as  Henry  Clay 
was.  But  now  I  must  go  ;  remember  my  counsel, 
and  decide  right." 

"  Many  thanks  for  your  interest,"  answered  Lin 
coln.  "  I  shall  certainly  ponder  the  subject,  and 
feel  grateful  to  you,  whether  I  decide  as  you  recom 
mend  or  not." 

He  did  ponder  the  subject.  He  inferred  that  he 
must  possess  some  qualifications  for  the  legal  pro 
fession  when  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Stuart  advised  him 
as  above.  The  counsel  of  Mr.  Stuart  made  more  im 
pression  upon  him  than  the  previous  advice  of  all 
his  friends.  Soon  after  the  legislature  adjourned,  he 
decided  to  become  a  lawyer ;  and  we  shall  proceed 
to  show  how  it  was  done. 


XXIV. 

WORKING  AND  WINNING. 

«/"100D,    Abe!"    exclaimed    William    Greene, 

VJT  when  the  news  of  Lincoln's  decision  to 
study  law  had  spread  through  the  village  ;  "  glad  to 
hear  that  you  have  taken  up  with  my  advice,  and 
are  going  to  study  law." 

"  I  did  n't  know  that  it  was  according  to  your 
advice,"  said  Lincoln. 

"  Did  n't  ?  " 

"  No,  I  am  sure  I  did  not." 

u  Months  ago  I  talked  with  you  about  it  in  the 
store,  and  tried  to  beat  it  into  your  head  that  you 
ought  to  be  a  lawyer,  and  you  finally  came  to  the 
decision  that  you  should  be  one  about  the  time  you 
were  seven  feet  high." 

"  0  yes  !  I  do  remember  it  now,"  said  Lincoln. 
"  You  see  I  did  not  wait  to  arrive  at  that  stature 
of  a  man.  I  concluded  that  it  would  not  make 
much  difference  if  I  did  fall  an  inch  short." 

"  Very  like  ;  but  now  I  s'pose  you  '11  hive  your- 
3elf  up  in  the  house  and  pore  over  your  books,  so 
that  we  shall  see  little  more  of  you." 


WORKING   AND   WINNING.  275 

"  Not  quite  so  bad,  though  I  shall  be  obliged  to 
improve  my  time  both  at  work  and  study.  It  looks 
like  the  greatest  job  I  ever  undertook." 

"Perhaps  it  is;  and  it  may  turn  out  to  be  the 
most  profitable  one  :  I  think  it  will.  Hallo !  if  there 
ain't  David !  I  wonder  what  is  afoot  now."  Just 
at  that  time  David  Rittenhouse  approached  them,  as 
they  stood  conversing  in  the  street. 

"  You  are  just  the  persons  I  want  to  see,"  said 
David.  "  We  want  you  to  come  over  to  our  house 
to-morrow  evening.  Nat  and  his  lady  are  on  from 
the  East,  and  we  are  goin'  to  have  a  little  gatherin' 
there."  Nathaniel  (commonly  called  Nat)  was  Da 
vid's  brother,  who  lived  in  New  England,  and  he 
had  just  returned  to  Illinois  on  a  flying  visit  with 
his  bride. 

"  Then  Nat  is  married,  is  he  ?  "  inquired  Greene. 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  told  him  that  we  would  get  to 
gether  to  express  our  sympathy  for  him  in  his  loss 
of  liberty." 

"  Probably  he  takes  his  loss  philosophically,"  safd 
Lincoln. 

"  Certainly,  he  's  perfectly  resigned  to  his  fate, 
and  I  hardly  think  you  will  wonder  when  you  see 
his  pretty  wife.  I  could  be  reconciled  to  his  condi 
tion,  I  think." 

"No  doubt,"  replied  Lincoln,  dryly;  "but 
whether  she  could  be  is  another  question." 

"  You  are  keen,  Abe,  to-day,"  said  David,  with  a 


276  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

laugh.  "  But  come  now,  what  do  you  say  to  com 
ing  over  to  our  house  to-morrow  night  ?  Can't  take 
no  for  an  answer." 

"  But  you  must,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned," 
answered  Lincoln.  "  I  'm  going  to  Springfield  to 
morrow,  for  my  books,  and  back  again." 

"  Let  your  books  go  for  to-morrow,  and  let  us 
have  a  good  time  for  once.  Nat  will  be  off  in  three 
days." 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  go,  but  it  is  impossible.  I 
must  forego  all  such  pleasures  now.  The  evenings 
are  my  best  time  for  studying.  And  there  is  yet 
another  thing,  —  I  have  n't  a  suit  of  clothes  fit  to 
wear  on  such  an  occasion." 

"  Fudge  !  your  clothes  are  good  enough.  Wear 
those  you  have  on,  if  you  can't  do  better.  The 
clothes  don't  make  the  man." 

"  That  is  all  folly.  You  'd  be  ashamed  of  me,  if 
I  appeared  in  such  a%  dress.  The  fact  is,  I  intended 
to  have  bought  a  new  suit  of  clothes  this  season, 
but  my  decision  to  study  law  has  made  it  necessary 
for  me  to  economize  ;  so  I  shall  wear  my  old  clothes 
for  the  present." 

"  And  stay  at  home,"  interrupted  David. 

"  I  must  stay  at  home,  at  any  rate,"  replied  Lin 
coln,  "  and  buckle  down  to  hard  study  when  I  am 
not  at  work,  if  I  intend  to  do  any  tiling." 

"  /  would  n't  do  it  for  all  the  law  in  creation, 
and  all  the  books  that  you  could  pile  up  in  New 
Salem,"  said  David. 


WORKING   AND   WINNING.  277 

"  And  there  is  just  the  difference  between  you 
and  Abe,"  added  Greene.  "  He  takes  to  books,  and 
you  don't." 

"  I  am  as  fond  of  society  as  either  of  you,"  said 
Lincoln  ;  "  but  I  must  deny  myself  of  this  enjoyment, 
if  I  would  succeed  in  my  plans.  It  is  pretty  clear 
that  I  must  do  two  things :  I  must  practise  econ 
omy  of  time  and  money,  and  be  as  industrious  as 
possible." 

"A  solemn  view  of  the  future,"  said  David, 
rather  sarcastically. 

"  And  a  correct  one,  too,  I  guess,"  added  Greene. 

"  Correct  or  not,"  said  Lincoln,  "  it  is  the  course 
I  have  marked  out  for  myself,  and  I  shall  not  de 
viate  from  it." 

"  David  ought  to  understand  that,"  responded 
Greene ;  "  for  when  you  make  up  your  mind  to  a 
tiling,  you  are  as  firm  as  the  hills,  —  can't  stir  you 
a  peg." 

"  Yes,  I  know  that,"  said  David,  "  and  so  I  sup 
pose  that  he  cannot  be  prevailed  upon  to  come  to 
our  house  to-morrow  night." 

"  Yes,  you  must  understand  it -so,"  replied  Lin 
coln,  "  although  I  should  enjoy  being  there.  I 
must  go  to  Springfield  to-morrow  at  any  rate,  and 
I  sha'n't  get  home  till  late." 

"  I  sha'n't  urge  you,  Abe,"  continued  David ; 
"  for  it  will  do  no  good  :  all  is,  I  'm  sorry  we  shall 
have  to  try  and  get  along  without  you." 


278  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"  That  you  can  easily  do,"  replied  Lincoln, — 
"  much  more  easily  than  I  can  walk  to  Springfield 
and  back.  There  will  be  enough  there  without 
me." 

This  was  only  a  specimen  of  his  self-denial,  and 
the  decision  with  which  he  adhered  to  his  purpose. 
He  canvassed  the  whole  subject  in  the  beginning, 
and  he  resolved  to  spend  no  evenings  in  social 
entertainments.  He  saw  that  he  must  do  it  from 
sheer  necessity,  as  he  would  be  obliged  to  use  up 
the  night  hours  much  more  economically  than  the 
laws  of  health  would  permit.  And  now  he  was 
inflexible.  His  purpose  was  fixed,  and  no  allure 
ments  or  promises  of  pleasure  could  make  him 
swerve  a  hair's  breadth  therefrom. 

Springfield  was  twenty-two  miles  from  New 
Salem,  and  yet  Lincoln  walked  there  and  back  on 
the  day  proposed.  He  made  a  long  day  of  it,  and 
a  wearisome  one,  too.  On  the  following  evening 
Greene  called  upon  him,  to  learn  how  he  made  it. 

"  What !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Did  you  bring  all 
these  books  home  in  your  arms  ? "  They  were 
Blackstone's  Commentaries,  in  four  volumes. 

"  Yes ;  and  read  one  of  the  volumes  more  than 
half  of  the  way,"  Lincoln  replied.  "  Come,  now, 
just  examine  me  on  that  first  volume." 

He  had  a  faculty  of  perusing  a  volume  when  he 
was  walking,  and  he  often  did  it.  He  gained  time 
thereby. 


WORKING  AND   WINNING.  279 

"I  don't  sec  what  you  are  made  of,  to  endure 
so,"  continued  Greene.  "  It  would  use  me  all  up 
to  carry  such  a  load  a  quarter  part  of  that  dis 
tance." 

"  I  am  used  to  it,  you  know,  and  that  makes  the 
difference.  But,  come,  just  see  what  I  know  about 
the  first  part  of  that  volume."  And  he  passed  the 
first  volume  to  him. 

"  If  you  pass  muster,  you  '11  want  I  should  admit 
you  to  the  bar,  I  suppose,"  responded  Greene,  hu 
morously.  "  That  I  shall  be  glad  to  do." 

So  he  proceeded  to  examine  Lincoln  on  the  first 
volume ;  and  he  found,  to  his  surprise,  that  he  was 
well  posted  on  every  part  of  it  that  he  had  read. 
By  his  close  attention,  and  the  ability  to  concen 
trate  his  thoughts,  he  readily  made  what  he  read 
his  own. 

Thus  Lincoln  began  and  continued  the  study  of 
law,  alternating  his  time  between  surveying  and 
study,  going  to  Springfield  for  books  as  often  as  it 
was  necessary,  and  often  pursuing  his  reading  of 
law  far  into  the  night.  People  were  universally 
interested  in  his  welfare,  and  all  predicted  that  he 
would  make  his  mark  by  and  by. 

With  such  devotion  did  he  employ  his  time  in 
study  and  manual  labor,  denying  himself  of  much 
that  young  men  generally  consider  essential,  that 
we  might  say  of  him,  as  Cicero  said  of  himself: 
"  What  others  give  to  public  shows  and  entertain- 


280  THE   PIONEER    BOY. 

ments,  to  festivity,  to  amusements,  nay,  even  to 
mental  and  bodily  rest,  I  give  to  study  and  phi 
losophy."  Even  when  he  was  engaged  in  the  fields 
surveying,  his  thoughts  were  upon  his  books,  so 
that  much  which  he  learned  at  night  was  fastened 
in  his  mind  by  day.  He  might  have  adopted  the 
language  of  Cicero  concerning  himself:  "Even  my 
leisure  hours  have  their  occupation." 

After  Lincoln  had  been  studying  some  time,  ho 
had  a  job  at  surveying,  several  miles  from  home. 
His  employer  was  an  ignorant  man,  rather  inclined 
to  hold  literary  men  in  contempt.  At  first  he  did 
not  know  that  Lincoln  was  a  prospective  lawyer,  but 
he  soon  found  out. 

"  Allers  up  to '  somethin'  that  don't  'mount  to 
nothin',  these  edicated  men,"  said  Holmes,  for  whom 
he  was  surveying.  "  I  wish  the  wuthless  crew  of 
'em  were  sent  to  the  jumpin'-off  place." 

"  That  is  rather  of  a  hard  wish,"  replied  Lincoln  ; 
"  why  do  you  feel  so  about  educated  men  ?  " 

"  'Cause  they  don't  airn  their  salt.  They  jist 
screw  their  livin'  out  of  other  folks." 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"  By  try  in'  to  live  by  their  wits,  and  feelin'  too 
big  to  dirty  their  hands  with  work." 

"  Docs  anybody  work  harder  than  Parson  Jones, 
I  should  like  to  know." 

"  He  don't  work  at  all,  my  word  for  it.  He  jist 
totes  about  from  place  to  place,  and  gets  his  bread 
and  butter  out  of  other  people." 


WORKING  AND   WINNING.  281 

"  Did  he  ever  get  any  out  of  you,  Mr.  Holmes  ?  " 
inquired  Lincoln,  rather  rebukingly,  as  he  did  not 
like  this  unjust  assault  upon  a  good  man. 

"  I  'd  be  split  if  he  did  ;  I  know  too  much  to  be 
come  it  on  by  him." 

Parson  Jones  was  a  pioneer  preacher,  who  per 
formed  a  great  amount  of  labor  in  his  circuit,  trust 
ing  to  Providence  to  move  the  hearts  of  good  people 
to  support  him  ;  and  they  did  it  cheerfully.  But 
Holmes  hated  him  because  he  was  a  minister,  and 
not  a  tiller  of  the  soil  as  ignorant  as  himself.  He 
was  not  a  literary  man  by  any  means,  but  Holmes 
so  regarded  him. 

"  You  have  no  reason  to  complain,  then,  if  he  has 
taken  nothing  from  you,"  said  Lincoln.  "  People 
generally  are  glad  to  support  him  for  the  good  that 
he  does." 

"  Fudge  !  He  cares  no  more  about  people  than  I 
do,  only  to  get  hist  livin'  out  on  'em." 

"  I  don't  believe  that.  Society  is  much  better 
in  all  this  region  in  consequence  of  his  labors. 
The  trouble  is,  that  you  hate  ministers  "  ;  and  he 
would  like  to  have  said  more,  but  he  thought  it  was 
not  best. 

"  Jist  as  I  hate  all  yer  lamed  folks,  that  are  too 
lazy  to  work.  'Squire  Bates  is  jist  like  the  rest  o' 
the  crew." 

"  Then  you  don't  believe  in  lawyers  ?  " 

"  I  '11  bet  I  don't ;  they  '11  cheat  ye  out  of  your 
eye  teeth." 


282  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  But  how  would  you  get  a  legal  claim  to  your 
section  without  them  ?  Won't  Lawyer  Bates  make 
out  your  papers  ?  " 

"  Wall,  y-i-s,  I  s'pose  he  will,  if  they  are  made  out 
at  all." 

"  Then  you  see  that  lawyers  have  their  place  to 
fill ;  and  we  should  not  know  how  to  get  along 
without  them.  Did  you  know  that  I  am  going  to  bo 
a  lawyer,  Mr.  Holmes  ?  " 

"  My  sakes  !  "  exclaimed  Holmes,  with  much  sur 
prise  ;  "  't  ain't  so,  is  it?" 

"  It  certainly  is ;  I  am  now  pursuing  my  stud 
ies." 

"  If  that 's  the  way  yer  study,  I  hain't  no  objec 
tions  to  that." 

"  I  don't  mean  that  I  am  studying  to-day,  while  I 
am  surveying;  but  I  spend  a  part  of  my  time  in 
reading  law,  and  work  just  enough  to  pay  my 
way." 

"  Well,  that 's  'nuff  sight  better  than  many  on 
'em  do  ;  for  they  studies,  and  let  's  other  folk's 
victual  'em.  But  du  tell,  Abe,  ef  you  be  's  goin' 
into  the  lor  business  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  I  am  serious  in  all  that  I  say.  I  have 
my  books  of  Mr.  Stuart,  of  Springfield,  and  shall  go 
there  for  them  as  often  as  I  want  them.  And  when 
I  become  a  lawyer,  I  shall  stop  surveying ;  so  you 
must  hurry  up  this  business,  if  you  expect  me  .to 
perform  it." 


WORKING   AND   WINNING.  283 

"  Thar  't  is,  Abe  ;  jist  as  I  said  ;  when  folks  takes 
to  book  larnin',  they  git  above  work." 

"  Not  so,  Mr.  Holmes  ;  no  man  can  follow  two 
callings  with  success.  You  know  Dr.  Franklin 
said,  that  we  must  not  have  '  too  many  irons  in  the 
fire.'  I  can't  be  a  good  lawyer  and  surveyor  at  the 
same  time,  and  so  when  I  am  prepared  to  practise 
law,  I  must  give  my  time  to  it.  You  can't  be  a 
good  farmer  and  a  good  carpenter  at  once,  can 
you  ?  " 

"  I  s'pose  not ;  but  how  many  weeks  will  yer  be  in 
gittin'  into  that  ere  lor  business  ?  " 

"  Weeks  !  "  exclaimed  Lincoln  ;  "  why,  it  will  be 
several  years  before  I  do  that,  —  at  least  two  years, 
to  do  the  best  I  can,  and  study  half  of  the  nights." 

"  I  'd  see  the  lor  in  Ginny  'fore  I  'd  du  it,"  re 
plied  Mr.  Holmes. 

Lincoln  could  not  convince  his  ignorant  employer 
that  lawyers  amount  to  much,  but  he  was  just  as 
intent  upon  his  profession  for  all  that.  Sometimes 
he  was  engaged  days  and  weeks  together  in  survey 
ing,  having  only  his  nights  in  which  to  study  ;  and 
then,  again,  he  had  both  day  and  night  to  give  to 
his  books  for  a  time.  Nor  did  his  interest  abate  in 
the  least ;  it  rather  increased  than  otherwise.  The 
longer  he  studied,  the  more  deeply  absorbed  he  be 
came  in  his  books.  His  robust  physical  constitution 
enabled  him  to  endure  hard  toil  both  of  body  and 
mind,  otherwise  he  would  have  broken  down. 


284  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

"  I  should  rather  be  in  prison,  than  to  sit  up 
nights  studying  as  you  do,  and  be  at  it  at  all  other 
times  you  can,"  said  David  Rittenhouse  to  him. 

"  I  really  enjoy  it,  David." 

"  I  can  hardly  credit  it." 

"  Then  you  think  I  do  not  speak  the  truth  ?  " 

"0  no,  for  no  one  ever  suspects  you  of  tellin' 
what  is  not  true.  I  only  meant  to  say,  that  I  cannot 
understand  it." 

"  We  are  not  all  constituted  alike." 

"Very  few  are  made  like  you,  Abe,  in  that  respect. 
You  rather  have  books  than  victuals  or  clothes,  I 
should  think,  by  your  actions." 

"  I  rather  have  less  food  and  clothes,  and  more 
knowledge,  if  I  can  get  it :  that  is  about  as  strong 
a  statement  as  the  truth  will  bear." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  your  views  are  nearer  right 
than  mine,  Abe,  and  I  expect  you  will  make  a  stir 
in  the  world." 

"  Nonsense,  David  ;  you  can't  talk  without  getting 
off  your  flattery.  I  hope  time  will  convince  you." 

"  I  expect  it  will,  and  make  me  out  a  prophet, 
too,"  replied  David,  with  a  significant  look. 

Allusion  is  here  made  to  an  important  fact. 
David  could  not  understand  how  Abraham  could 
possess  such  a  love  of  knowledge  as  to  lead  him  to 
forego  all  social  pleasures,  be  willing  to  wear  a 
threadbare  coat,  live  on  the  coarsest  fare,  and 
labor  hard  all  day,  and  sit  up  half  the  night,  for 


WORKING   AND   WINNING.  285 

the  sake  of  learning.  But  there  is  just  that  power 
in  the  love  of  knowledge,  and  it  was  this  that  caused 
Lincoln  to  derive  happiness  from  doing  what  would 
have  been  a  source  of  misery  to  David.  Some  of 
the  most  marked  instances  of  self-forgetfulness  re 
corded  are  connected  with  the  pursuit  of  knowl 
edge.  Archimedes  was  so  much  in  love  with  the 
studies  of  his  profession,  that  he  frequently  forgot 
his  meals,  and  scarcely  knew  whether  his  garments 
were  on  his  back  or  not.  He  was  taking  a  bath 
when  the  idea  was  suggested  that  led  to  the  accurate 
knowledge  of  the  specific  gravities  of  different  bodies, 
and  he  is  said  to  have  rushed  forth  naked  into  the 
streets  of  Syracuse,  exclaiming,  "  I  HAVE  FOUND  IT  I 
I  HAVE  FOUND  IT  !  "  Professor  Heyne,  of  Gottingen, 
also,  from  his  childhood  possessed  this  unquench 
able  love  of  knowledge.  His  parents  struggled 
with  the  most  depressing  poverty,  and  his  father, 
who  was  a  weaver,  was  often  unable  to  provide 
bread  for  his  large  family.  Heyne  says,  in  his 
Memoirs  of  his  own  Life :  "  Want  was  the  earliest 
companion  of  my  childhood.  I  well  remember  the 
painful  impressions  made  on  my  mind  by  witness 
ing  the  distress  of  my  mother,  when  without  food 
for  her  children.  How  often  have  I  seen  her,  on  a 
Saturday  evening,  weeping  and  wringing  her  hands, 
as  she  returned  home  from  an  unsuccessful  effort  to 
sell  the  goods  which  the  daily  and  nightly  toil  of  my 
father  had  manufactured."  And  yet,  ii'  he  could 


286  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

get  a  book,  he  was  content  to  run  about  barefoot 
and  ragged.  Later  in  life,  when  he  was  resolved  to 
pursue  his  studies  at  all  hazards,  he  actually  suffered 
for  the  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  allowed 
himself  only  two  nights'  sleep  in  a  week.  But  he  was 
happy  only  when  he  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge.  He  preferred  it,  with  poverty  and  hard 
ship,  to  ignorance,  with  riches  and  ease,  so  all-inspir 
ing  is  the  love  of  knowledge. 

Lincoln  made  rapid  advancement  in  his  studies, 
and  became  more  enthusiastic  therein  every  day. 
Week  after  week,  and  month  after  month,  he  con 
tinued  them,  interrupted  only  by  his  jobs  at  survey 
ing,  and  going  to  the  legislature.  His  journeys  to 
Springfield,  as  often  as  it  was  necessary,  constituted 
an  interesting  part  of  his  programme.  He  enjoyed 
them,  because  they  were  a  necessary  means  to  an 
end. 

And  so  he  worked,  and  won.  The  reader  may 
learn  how  well  he  progressed,  from  the  fact  that  in 
about  two  years  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
Mr.  Stuart  received  him  as  a  partner  in  the  practice 
of  law.  He  saw  marked  talents  and  an  honest  pur 
pose  in  his  young  friend,  and  he  had  high  hopes  of 
his  success.  His  connection  with  Mr.  Stuart,  also, 
was  creditable  to  Lincoln,  since  it  was  proof  that 
he  had  done  well,  and  promised  to  do  better  still. 

We  should  stop  the  history  at  this  point,  and  close 
at  once  with  a  brief  summary  of  his  after  life  ;  but 


WORKING   AND   WINDING.  287 

there  is  one  scene  belonging  to  his  later  years  that 
requires  particular  attention,  because  of  its  connec 
tion  with  an  event  already  considered.  It  transpired 
after  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  wo  shall  de 
vote  the  closing  chapter  to  it. 


XXV. 

THE  TRAGEDY. 

"  A  MAN  killed !  "  shouted  several  voices,  and 
-£JL  the  alarm  rang  along  the  tents. 

"  Where  ?  "  exclaimed  one,  rushing  from  a  tent. 

"  Who  ?  "  cried  out  another,  under  great  excite 
ment. 

"  Seize  the  villain  !  " 

«  Who  did  it  ?  " 

"  This  way  in  a  minute  !  " 

"  Where  's  a  constable  ?  " 

Thus  the  excited  crowd  cried  out  one  after  an 
other,  and  all  together  running  to  and  fro  in  great 
consternation,  as  they  were  aroused  by  the  startling 
cry.  Few  understood  what  had  happened,  nor  where 
the  tragedy  was ;  but  the  fearful  cry  ringing  upon 
the  night  air  assured  them  that  some  terrible  crime 
had  been  perpetrated.  It  was  at  a  camp-meeting  in 
Menard  County,  Illinois  ;  and  the  excitement  broke 
up  the  meetings  for  a  time,  rendering  night  almost 
hideous  with  the  shouts  and  cries  of  the  excited 
and  terrified  people. 

"  Yonder  !  "  shouted  a  young  man,  who  seemed 


THE   TRAGEDY.  289 

to  understand  just  where  the  Fearful  scene  was. 
"  He  's  murdered  !  "  and  on  he  ran,  scarcely  know 
ing  what  his  errand  was. 

"  There  's  been  a  fight,"  said  another,  "  and  a 
fellow  is  killed,  —  been  stabbed  right  through  the 
heart." 

"  0  dear !  "  exclaimed  a  woman  at  the  dreadful 
recital.  "  Who  could  do  such  a  wicked  thing  ?  " 

"  Rum  did  it,  madam,"  replied  the  man.  "  They 
were  all  drunk,  and  so  they  pitched  into  each  other 
like  so  many  tigers  ;  and  it  is  a  burning  shame  that 
such  things  should  be  suffered  at  a  camp-meeting." 

"  Indeed  it  is,"  added  the  woman  ;  "  but  there 
are  so  many  people  who  have  n't  the  fear  of  God 
before  their  eyes,  that  we  ought  not  to  be  surprised 
at  anything.  Who  were  they  ?  " 

"  They  were  all  young  men,  and  so  much  the 
worse  for  that." 

"  Do  you  know  any  of  them  ?  " 

"  I  heard  one  of  them  charging  the  deed  upon 
Joe  Armstrong  ;  but  my  opinion  is,  that  they  -were 
all  too  drunk  to  know  who  did  it.  There  is  so 
much  confusion  and  noise  that  I  could  n't  find  out 
much  about  it." 

By  this  time,  many  had  discovered  where  the 
trouble  was,  and  a  crowd  of  people  collected,  with 
numerous  inquiries  about  the  affair,  and  officers  to 
arrest  the  parties  were  loudly  called  for. 

After  the  excitement  had  subsided,  and  the  affair 

13  8 


290  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

was  pretty  well  investigated,  the  following  facts  came 
out :  —  A  few  fast  young  men  became  intoxicated, 
and  from  hard  words  proceeded  to  harder  blows. 
Angry  passions  raged  more  and  more  fiercely,  until 
one  of  the  number  plunged  a  knife  into  the  breast 
of  another,  and  he  fell  dying  to  the  ground,  and 
soon  ceased  to  breathe.  One  of  the  number  charged 
the  murder  upon  Joe  Armstrong,  declaring  that  he 
saw  him  inflict  the  blow ;  and  so  Joe  was  arrested, 
notwithstanding  that  he  stoutly  denied  the  charge. 

The  tidings  of  Joe's  arrest  travelled  quickly  to 
his  native  place,  so  that  everybody  there  learned 
the  facts  in  the  case  on  the  next  day ;  and  many 
were  ready  to  believe  that  Joe  was  the  murderer. 
He  was  the  son  of  the  Mr.  Armstrong  who  gave 
Lincoln  a  home  a  few  years  before,  as  narrated  in 
a  former  chapter. 

Nearly  all  were  disposed  to  rake  over  his  past 
life,  and  cite  every  act  of  wickedness  of  which  he 
had  been  guilty,  magnifying  them  not  a  little  in 
their  excited  state  of  mind.  His  difficulties  with 
the  boys  of  the  neighborhood,  his  headstrong  dis 
position,  the  "  high  scrapes  "  in  which  he  had  par 
ticipated,  and  many  other  things,  were  brought  up 
against  him,  and  it  all  served  to  convince  them  that 
he  was  now  a  murderer. 

It  was  not  strange  that  the  public  mind,  in  its 
excited  state,  should  thus  pile  upon  the  young  man 
the  sins  of  his  youth.  For  this  is  usually  the  case 


THE   TRAGEDY.  291 

When  bad  boys  grow  up  to  manhood,  and  are  bad 
men,  the  evil  deeds  of  their  youth  are  usually 
brought  up  to  set  out  the  corruption  of  their  later 
life.  They  cannot  run  away  from  their  youthful 
sins,  nor  wipe  them  out,  except  by  repentance  and 
reformation.  So  Joe  Armstrong  had  to  meet  the 
sins  of  his  past  life,  at  the  same  time  that  this 
great  crime  was  charged  upon  his  unrighteous 
manhood. 

"  I  pity  his  good  old  mother,"  said  Mr.  Jones, 
who  had  been  to  see  her.  "  It  seems  as  if  she 
could  scarcely  endure  it,  though  she  does  not  think 
that  Joe  is  guilty  of  murder." 

"Of  course  she  wouldn't,"  answered  his  wife, 
"  would  n't  a  mother  be  likely  to  think  her  own 
son  innocent  of  such  a  charge  ?  Poor  woman !  It 
half  of  her  good  pious  counsels  had  been  treasured 
up  in  Joe's  heart,  or  half  of  her  prayers  answered, 
he  would  not  have  come  to  such  a  sad  end  as  this." 

"  I  can  scarcely  see  how  it  is  that  such  good 
parents  are  so  disappointed  in  their  children,"  con 
tinued  Mr.  Jones.  "  They  've  tried  hard  enough 
to  make  Joe  what  he  ought  to  be.  I  'm  not  sure 
but  his  father  worried  himself  into  his  grave,  and 
I  'm  almost  glad  that  he  did  n't  live  to  see  this 
day." 

"  And  so  am  I,"  said  his  wife.  "  But  his  mother 
seems  to  think  a  deal  of  Joe ;  I  have  wondered  at 
it  sometimes.  She  never  seemed  to  me  to  think 


292  THE  PIONEER   BOY. 

he  was  any  worse  than  other  people's  sons.  I 
think  she  has  been  blinded  to  his  true  character." 

"That  is  n't  strange.  It  is  natural  for  her  to 
lean  upon  him,  widow  as  she  is,  and  to  hope  against 
hope,  that  he  would  become  better  as  he  grew 
older !  And  I  pity  her  all  the  more  for  if." 

Mr.  Armstrong  died  two  or  three  years  after 
Lincoln  had  a  home  in  the  family,  and  Joe  had 
professed  to  look  after  the  farm  and  his  mother 
since  the  day  the  good  father  was  laid  under  the 
turf.  He  had  served  his  mother  better  in  her 
widowhood  than  most  of  the  neighbors  supposed, 
and  much  of  the  talk  against  him  now  arose  from 
exaggerated  accounts  of  his  vicious  practices.  He 
was  not  half  so  bad  as  the  stories  represented  him 
to  be.  The  excitement  was  such  that  molecules  of 
vice  were  magnified  into  mountains.  But  he  was 
far  from  being  a  virtuous  young  man. 

A  bill  was  found  against  young  Armstrong,  and 
he  was  "  bound  over  "  for  trial,  and  lodged  in  jail. 
It  was  a  sorry  day  for  him,  as  the  reader  will  im 
agine,  when  the  court  bound  him  over  under  the 
charge  of  murder,  and  he  was  sent  to  prison.  It 
was  a  still  more  sorrowful  day  for  his  mother,  who 
had  never  dreamed  of  such  an  experience  as  this. 
But  for  her  Christian  hope,  and  her  unshaken  confi 
dence  in  his  innocence,  she  would  have  sunk  under 
the  crushing  trial.  As  it  was,  she  was  bowed  down 
with  her  weight  of  grief,  fearing  that  he  might  be 


THE   TRAGEDY.  293 

condemned,  though  he  was  not  guilty.  And  per 
haps,  deep  down  in  the  secret  of  her  heart,  she 
feared,  even  against  her  belief  in  his  innocence, 
that  he  might  be  guilty. 

"  You  must  obtain  legal  advice,"  said  kind  Mr. 
Jones  to  her,  "  and  perhaps  he  may  be  saved  yet." 

"  How  can  I,  a  poor  widow,  with  not  an  extra 
dollar  in  the  world,  do  that  ? "  she  replied.  "  I 
don't  see  but  what  he  must  be  left  to  run  his  chance 
of  having  justice  done  him  without  a  lawyer." 

"  But  you  must  not  give  up  to  your  feelings  so. 
Now  is  the  time  to  see  what  can  be  done,  and  I 
should  be  glad  to  assist  you  all  I  can." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Mr.  Jones,  and  your  sympa 
thy  is  worth  everything  to  me  in  this  hour  of  trial ; 
and  I  should  be  glad  to  do  anything  that  will  save 
m7  boy  ;  but  I  don't  know  what  to  do." 

"  You  can  go  to  Esquire  A ,  and  tell  him 

your  circumstances  and  wants,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  he  will  advise  you  without  charge.  And  then 
you  should  have  an  interview  with  your  son  at  the 
earliest  opportunity." 

"  Will  they  admit  me  to  his  cell  for  such  an 
interview  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  under  proper  restrictions,  and  with 
reference  to  affording  him  a  fair  trial.  I  believe 

that  Esquire  A would  cheerfully  go  with  you 

for  such  an  interview,  and  you  will  need  to  take 
a  lawyer  with  you." 


294  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

"Your  kindness  greatly  encourages  me,  Mr.  Jones. 
'  A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed,'  and  I  thank 
you  a  thousand  times.  May  the  Lord  reward  you 
for  your  sympathy  for  the  widow  and  fatherless." 

Mr.  Jones  went  out  silently,  and  an  observer 
might  have  seen  him  brush  a  tear  from  his  mois 
tened  eye  as  he  closed  the  door. 

Mrs.  Armstrong  decided  to  see  what  could  be 
done  for  her  boy.  As  soon  as  she  could  arrange 
matters  at  home,  she  determined  to  see  Esquire 
A ,  and  do  certain  other  things  which  the  cir 
cumstances  suggested.  In  these  things,  however, 
she  was  delayed,  partly  by  duties  at  home,  and 
partly  by  the  fact  that  the  trial  was  some  weeks 
distant,  and  hence  there  was  no  special  reason  for 
haste.  But  just  as  she  was  on  the  point  of  execut 
ing  her  purpose,  she  received  a  letter  running  as 
follows :  — 

SPRINGFIELD,  ILL.,  Sept.  — ,  18 — . 

DEAR  MRS.  ARMSTRONG  :  — 

I  have  just  heard  of  your  deep  affliction,  and  the 
arrest  of  your  son  for  murder.  I  can  hardly  be 
lieve  that  he  can  be  guilty  of  the  crime  alleged 
against  him.  It  does  not  seem  possible.  I  am 
anxious  that  he  should  have  a  fair  trial  at  any 
rate  ;  and  gratitude  for  your  long-continued  kind 
ness  to  me  in  adverse  circumstances  prompts  me  to 
offer  my  humble  services  gratuitously  in  his  behalf. 
'It  will  afford  me  an  opportunity  to  requite,  in  a 


THE   TRAGEDY.  295 

small  degree,  the  favors  I  received  at  your  hand, 
and  that  of  your  lamented  husband,  when  your 
roof  afforded  me  grateful  shelter  without  money 
and  without  price. 

Yours  truly, 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"  God  be  praised  ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Armstrong, 
as  tears  of  joy  came  to  her  relief;  and,  dropping 
upon  her  knees,  she  poured  out  her  grateful  feel 
ings  to  God  for  this  timely  aid.  It  was  the  brightest 
hour  she  had  seen  since  her  dear  boy  was  charged 
with  murder.  She  felt  that  God  was  with  her. 
She  could  now  see  his  hand  in  all  the  past,  and  she 
began  to  hope  that  all  would  be  well  in  future. 
Years  before  she  sheltered  the  poor  boy  in  her  hum 
ble  cabin,  and  now  he  had  come  to  shelter  her  in 
his  turn.  Here  was  God.  She  could  not  doubt  it. 
This  was  providence.  She  felt  it  in  the  very  depths 
of  her  soul.  She  could  see  why  it  was  that  she 
befriended  the  poor  youth  when  lie  was  penniless. 
God's  hand  was  in  it  to  raise  up  a  deliverer  for  her 
when  the  darkest  hour  of  her  life  oppressed  her 
soul.  And  she  repeated  over  and  over  the  sweet 
promise,  — "  He  that  watereth  shall  be  watered 
also  himself." 

Mrs.  Armstrong  was  now  fully  aroused  from  her 
despondency,  and  hope  was  revived  in  her  heart. 
The  cloud  was  breaking  to  her  view.  She  resolved 
to  do  what  she  could; 


296  THE   PIONEER  BOY. 

No  time  was  lost  in  having  an  interview  with  hej 
son ;  she  also  communicated  with  her  true  friend, 
who  proffered  his  services  as  above,  and  made  haste 
to  secure  an  impartial  trial.  At  every  step  hope 
brightened.  She  became  fully  convinced  that  he 
was  innocent  of  the  crime  charged  against  him, 
and  she  grew  resolute  under  this  conviction. 

Her  legal  friend,  the  hero  of  this  volume,  spared 
no  time  nor  pains  to  investigate  the  case,  and  he 
became  satisfied  that  a  conspiracy  existed  to  prove 
young  Armstrong  a  murderer,  when  another  hand 
struck  the  fatal  blow.  This  conviction  induced  him 
to  undertake  his  defence  with  all  the  energy  and  abil 
ity  he  could  bring  to  the  task.  But  the  public  mind 
was  intensely  excited,  and  nearly  every  person  was 
persuaded  that  the  accused  was  guilty. 

In  these  circumstances,  it  was  more  difficult  to 
conduct  the  case,  and  Lincoln  saw  it  in  this  light. 
He  knew  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  select 
an  impartial  jury  at  such  a  time,  and  he  said  to 
Mrs.  Armstrong,  "  We  must  have  the  case  put  off 
if  possible,  until  the  excitement  dies  away." 

"  And  let  my  dear  boy  lie  in  prison  all  the 
while  ?  "  she  inquired. 

"  There  is  no  other  alternative.  Better  that  than 
to  be  condemned  and  executed  in  advance." 

"  True,  very  true  ;  but  I  am  almost  impatient  to 
see  him  free  again." 

"  That  is  not  strange  at  all ;  but  I  am  satisfied 


THE   TRAGEDY.  297 

that  the  case  cannot  be  conducted  impartially,  while 
the  public  mind  is  so  excited." 

"  I  understand  your  views,"  said  Mrs.  Arm 
strong,  u  and  shall  agree  to  any  decision  you  make. 
The  case  is  in  your  hands,  and  you  will  conduct  it 
as  you  think  best." 

"  Another  thing,  too,"  added  Mr.  Lincoln  ;  "  I 
need  more  time  to  unravel  this  conspiracy.  I  believe 
that  too  much  time  cannot  be  spent  in  looking  into 
the  matter.  I  want  to  produce  evidence  that  shall 
vindicate  your  son  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  rea 
sonable  man,  and  expose  his  accuser." 

"  You  cannot  desire  it  more  than  I  do  ;  and  I 
think  your  views  of  the  case  are  wise." 

It  was  thus  settled  that  the  lawyer  should  secure 
a  postponement  of  the  case,  if  possible,  and  every 
exertion  be  made  to  unravel  the  affair.  In  this  he 
was  successful,  and  the  case  was  deferred,  much  to 
the  annoyance  of  many,  who  had  made  up  their 
minds  that  the  young  man  was  guilty,  and  ought  to 
be  tried  at  once,  and  condemned. 

The  interim  was  spent  in  tracing  evidence,  and 
Mrs.  Armstrong's  counsellor  labored  as  assiduously 
to  pay  his  old  debt  of  gratitude  as  he  would  have 
done  under  the  offer  of  a  fee  of  five  thousand  dol 
lars. 

We  hasten  to  the  trial.  The  time  for  it  arrived, 
and  it  drew  together  a  crowd  of  interested  people. 
Nor  wore  they  under  so  much  excitement  as  when 

13* 


298  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

the  case  was  postponed.  The  "  sober,  second 
thought"  had  moderated  their  feelings,  and  they 
were  in  a  better  frame  of  mind  to  judge  impar 
tially. 

The  witnesses  for  the  State  were  introduced  ;  some 
to  testify  of  Armstrong's  previous  vicious  character, 
and  others  to  relate  what  they  saw  of  the  affair  on 
the  night  of  the  murder.  His  accuser  testified  in 
the  most  positive  manner,  that  he  saw  him  make 
the  dreadful  thrust  that  felled  his  victim. 

"  Could  there  be  no  mistake  in  regard  to  the 
person  who  struck  the  blow  ? "  asked  the  counsel 
for  the  defence. 

"  None  at  all :  I  am  confident  of  that,"  replied 
the  witness. 

"  What  time  in  the  evening  was  it  ? " 

"  Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock." 

"  Well,  about  how  far  between  ?  Was  it  quarter 
past  nine  or  half  past  nine  o'clock,  or  still  later? 
Be  more  exact,  if  you  please." 

"  I  should  think  it  might  have  been  about  half 
past  nine  o'clock,"  answered  the  witness. 

"  And  you  are  confident  that  you  saw  the  prisoner 
at  the  bar  give  the  blow  ?  Be  particular  in  your 
testimony,  and  remember  that  you  are  under  oath." 

"  I  am ;  there  can  be  no  mistake  about  it." 

"  Was  it  not  dark  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  the  moon  was  shining  brightly." 

"  Then  it  was  not  very  dark,  as  there  was  a 
moon  ?  " 


THE   TRAGEDY.  299 

"  No ;  the  inoon  made  it  light  enough  for  me  to 
see  the  whole  affair." 

"  Be  particular  on  this  point.  Do  I  understand 
you  to  say  that  the  murder  was  committed  ahout 
half  past  nine  o'clock,  and  that  the  moon  was  shin 
ing  brightly  at  the  time  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  what  I  testify." 

"  Very  well ;  that  is  all." 

His  principal  accuser  was  thus  positive  in  his 
testimony,  and  the  sagacious  attorney  saw  enough 
therein  to  brand  him  as  a  perjurer. 

After  the  witnesses  for  the  State  had  been  called, 
the  defence  introduced  a"  few,  to  show  that  young 
Armstrong  had  borne  a  much  better  character  than 
some  of  the  witnesses  gave  him,  and  also  that  his 
accuser  had  been  his  personal  enemy,  while  the 
murdered  young  man  was  his  personal  friend. 

The  counsel  for  the  Commonwealth  considered 
that  the  evidence  was  too  strong  against  Armstrong 
to  admit  of  a  reasonable  doubt  of  his  guilt ;  there 
fore,  his  plea  was  short  and  formal. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  to  Lincoln.  What 
could  he  say  for  the  accused,  in  the  face  of  such 
testimony?  Few  saw  any  possible  chance  for  the 
supposed  culprit  to  escape :  his  condemnation  was 
sure. 

Mr.  Lincoln  rose,  while  a  deeply  impressive  still 
ness  reigned  throughout  the  court-room.  The 
prisoner  sat  with  a  worried,  despairing  look,  such 


300  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

as  he  had  worn  ever  since  his  arre.st.  When  he 
was  led  into  the  court-room,  a  most  melancholy 
expression  sat  upon  his  brow,  as  if  he  were  for 
saken  by  every  friend,  and  the  evidence  presented 
was  not  suited  to  produce  a  change  for  the  better. 

His  counsel .  proceeded  to  review  the  testimony, 
and  called  attention  particularly  to  the  discrepan 
cies  in  the  statements  of  the  principal  witness. 
What  had  seemed  to  the  multitude  as  plain,  truth 
ful  statements  he  showed  to  be  wholly  inconsistent 
with  other  parts  of  the  testimony,  indicating  a  plot 
against  an  innocent  man.  Then,  raising  his  clear, 
full  voice  to  a  higher  key,  and  lifting  his  long, 
wiry  right  arm  above  his  head,  as  if  about  to  anni 
hilate  his  client's  accuser,  he  exclaimed :  "  And 
he  testifies  that  the  moon  was  shining  brightly 
when  the  deed  was  perpetrated,  between  the  hours 
of  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  when  the  moon  did  not 
appear  on  that  night,  as  your  Honor's  almanac 
will  show,  until  an  hour  or  more  later,  and  con 
sequently  the  whole  story  is  a  fabrication." 

The  audience  were  carried  by  this  sudden  ex 
posure  of  the  accuser's  falsehoods,  and  they  were 
now  as  bitter  against  the  principal  witness  as  they 
were  before  against  the  supposed  culprit. 

Mr.  Lincoln  went  on  in  a  strain  of  singular 
enthusiasm  and  eloquence,  portraying  the  deep, 
black  guilt  of  the  perjurer,  and  at  the  same  time 
pointing  his  nervous  finger  at  the  false  witness,  and 


THE   TRAGEDY.  301 

flashing  his  keen  eye  upon  him,  until  he  winced  and 
writhed  under  the  faithful  scourge.  The  speaker 
appealed  to  the  jury  in  behalf  of  their  own  sons, 
who  might  fall  victims  to  the  malice  and  revenge 
of  some  base  wretch,  and  he  besought  them  to 
remember  the  fatherless  and  the  widow  in  the  day 
of  trial,  referring  to  his  own  experience  under  the 
friendly  roof  of  her  whose  son  was  arraigned  before 
them,  and  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  he  was  trying 
to  liquidate ;  and  eyes  unused  to  weep  were  wet 
when  he  closed  his  fervid  plea.  It  was  near  night 
when  he  concluded  by  saying,  that,  "  If  justice  is 
done,  as  I  believe  it  will  be,  before  the  sun  sets,  it 
will  shine  upon  my  client  a  free  man." 

Before  he  closed  his  plea,  the  wicked  accuser  was 
so  overcome  by  the  speaker's  description  of  the  per 
jurer's  guilt,  that  he  could  not  retain  his  seat,  and 
he  rose  up,  tremblingly,  and  fairly  staggered  out  of 
the  court-room. 

44  A  vile  perjurer ! "  whispered  one  spectator  to 
another. 

"  That  's  plain  enough  to  see  !  "  was  the  response. 

"  He  carries  his  guilt  in  his  face,"  said  a  third ; 
"  Armstrong  is  an  innocent  man." 

"  No  doubt  about  that,  and  his  accuser  deserves 
the  halter.  It  is  bad  as  murder  itself  to  undertake 
to  prove  an  innocent  man  guilty  of  such  a  crime." 

41  Lucky  for  him  that  he  did  n't  play  the  game 
with  me,"  added  the  last  speaker  but  one. 


802  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

And  so  the  feeling  went  round  the  court-room. 
They  who  had  come  thither  with  the  full  belief  that 
Armstrong  was  the  murderer,  were  now  convinced 
of  his  innocence. 

The  jury  retired,  and  the  court  adjourned  for  the 
day.  But  while  the  judge  and  counsellors  were 
taking  tea  at  the  hotel,  it  was  announced  that  the 
jury  had  returned.  They  had  been  out  less  than 
thirty  minutes.  At  once  there  was  a  rush  to  the 
court-room,  and  it  was  filled  to  overflowing  with 
a  deeply-interested  assembly. 

As  the  prisoner  came  in,  his  mother  leaning  upon 
his  arm,  a  gleam  of  hope  could  be  discovered  light 
ing  up  his  brow  a  little,  while  his  aged  mother 
appeared  less  sad  and  broken-hearted.  Amid  an 
oppressive  silence,  when-  the  beating  of  anxious 
hearts  could  almost  be  heard,  the  jury  returned  a 
verdict  of  "Not  Guilty!" 

A  shout  of  joy  rang  through  the  court-room,  and 
the  mother  sprang  forward  and  fell  into  the  arms 
of  her  guiltless  son,  who  lifted  her  up,  saying: 
"  Mother,  look  upon  your  son  again  as  free  and 
innocent,"  and  his  utterance  was  clicked,  as  he 
g^zed  into  the  pallid  face  of  her  who  loved  him  as 
her  own  life. 

"  Thank  God  !  "  she  exclaimed,  rallying  from  her 
partial  faintness,  into  which  she  had  been  thrown 
by  excess  of  joy. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Lincoln  ?  "  inquired  the  acquit- 


•     •"     !  '  ;  *      \v 

&    ;r.  %-MC 


"  It  is  not  yet  sundown,  and  you  are  free."  —  Pape  3lKi. 


THE  TRAGEDY.  303 

ted  son,  as  the  crowd  pressed  around  him.  Then 
seeing  his  tall  form  on  the  other  side  of  the  room, 
he  pushed  through  the  assembly,  and  grasped  his 
deliverer  by  the  hand  ;  but  he  could  not  speak. 
His  heart  was  too  full  for  utterance.  Tears  filled 
his  eyes,  —  tears  of  overflowing  gratitude,  —  and 
he  stood  speechless  before  him,  expressing  more 
by  his  looks  than  he  possibly  could  have  done  by 
words. 

Turning  his  eye  toward  the  setting  sun,  and  still 
grasping  the  hand  of  his  client,  Mr.  Lincoln  said, 
"  It  is  not  yet  sundown,  and  you  are  free." 

The  scene  was  too  affecting  to  be  witnessed  with 
unmoistened  eyes,  and  many  observers  turned  away 
to  conceal  their  emotion. 

A  rare  incident  this,  illustrating  both  the  noble 
character  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  the  precious 
truth  that  is  contained  in  the  promise,  "  Cast  thy 
bread  upon  the  waters,  for  thou  shalt  find  it  after 
many  days." 

Here  and  there  we  meet  with  similar  incidents, 
although  they  are  far  between,  and  each  one  is  a 
bright  spot  on  the  dark  background  of  human 
nature.  We  love  to  recall  and  ponder  them.  One 
of  this  kind  is  recorded  of  an  American  statesman, 
who  might  have  found  an  honored  place  in  the  his 
tory  of  our  land,  but  for  his  treasonable  acts.  Wo 
refer  to  Hon.  Alexander  H.  Stephens.  Witli  all  his 
talents  and  promise  of  high  renown,  the  part  lie  has 


301  THE   PIONEER   BOY. 

played  in  the  wicked  game  of  secession  has  con 
signed  his  name  to  undying  shame.  Notwithstand 
ing  this,  however,  the  following  fact  of  his  early 
life,  related  by  himself  several  years  ago,  at  Alex 
andria,  in  an  address  in  behalf  of  the  orphan 
asylum  and  free  schools  of  the  city,  will  be  read 
with  interest :  — 

"  A  poor  little  boy,  on  a  cold  night  in  January, 
with  no  home  or  roof  to  shelter  his  head,  no  pater 
nal  or  maternal  guardian  or  guide  to  protect  him 
on  his  way,  reached  at  nightfall  the  house  of  a  rich 
planter,  who  took  him  in,  fed,  lodged,  and  sent  him 
on  his  way  with  his  blessing.  These  kind  attentions 
cheered  his  heart,  and  inspired  him  with  fresh  cour 
age  to  battle  with  the  obstacles  of  life.  Years  rolled 
round  ;  Providence  led  him  on  ;  he  had  reached  the 
legal  profession  ;  his  host  had  died  ;  the  cormorants 
that  prey  on  the  substance  of  man  had  formed  a 
conspiracy  to  get  from  the  widow  her  estates.  She 
sent  for  the  nearest  counsel,  to  commit  her  cause  to 
him,  and  that  counsel  proved  to  be  the  orphan  boy 
years  before  welcomed  and  entertained  by  her  de 
ceased  husband.  The  stimulus  of  a  warm  and  tena 
cious  gratitude  was  now  added  to  the  ordinary  mo 
tives  connected  with  the  profession.  He  undertook 
her  cause  with  a  will  not  easily  to  be  resisted  ;  lie 
gained  it ;  the  widow's  estates  were  secured  to  her 
in  perpetuity  ;  and,  Mr.  Stephens  added,  with  an 


THE   TRAGEDY.  305 

emphasis  of  emotion  that  sent  its  electric  thrill 
through  the  house,  '  That  orphan  boy  stands  before 
you ! ' " 

Would  that  the  promise  of  such  a  touching  fact 
still  cheered  the  life  of  this  recreant  son  of  Georgia ! 
But  alas !  he  arose  as  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude, 
and  then  plunged,  like  a  falling  meteor,  into  the 
dark  abyss  of  treason.  How  unlike  the  noble, 
patriotic  efforts  of  the  subject  of  this  volume,  who 
clings  to  the  Union  with  the  tenacity  of  one  who  is 
resolved  to  save  it  or  perish ! 


XXVI. 

CONCLUSION 

WE  have  now  traced  the  early  life  of  the  sub 
ject  of  this  volume  to  the  period  when  he 
began  to  win  laurels  in  his  chosen  profession.  We 
have  seen  him  enter  upon  the  stern  duties  of  man 
hood  with  an  empty  pocket,  but  a  noble  heart.  The 
pioneer  boy  has  become  the  gifted  lawyer. 

His  life,  since  the  period  at  which  our  narrative 
stops,  is  known  to  all.  His  remarkable  success  in 
the  legal  profession,  his  efficiency  in  public  offices, 
his  connection  with  Congress,  his  position  as  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States,  and,  what  is  better  still, 
his  untarnished  character,  have  given  him  a  world 
wide  fame. 

That  the  foundation  of  his  success  was  laid  in  his 
boyhood  cannot  be  denied.  We  have  seen  that  his 
early  life  was  distinguished  for  those  elements  of 
character  that  have  rendered  his  manhood  conspic 
uous.  An  excellent  mother's  training  appears  in 
the  beginning.  Never  was  maternal  influence  more 
clearly  illustrated  in  the  rearing  of  a  son.  The 
three  lessons  that  the  mother  of  Washington  said 


CONCLUSION.  SOT 

she  endeavored  to  impress  upon  the  mind  uf  her 
son  —  namely,  "  obedience,  diligence,  and  truth  "  — 
were  insisted  upon  in  his  childhood.  Never  did  a 
boy  give  more  earnest  heed  to  these  cardinal  virtues 
than  did  he.  All  along  through  his  early  life  they 
appear,  —  the  flower  and  fruit  of  a  sainted  mother's 
fidelity. 

There  was  also  an  energy,  perseverance,  and  de 
cision  manifest  in  all  his  acts,  that  augur  well  for 
the  possessor.  These  qualities  appear  even  in  the 
sports  of  his  boyhood.  They  characterize  his  early 
labors  and  studies. 

Nor  was  the  habit  of  doing  things  well  absent  in 
his  case.  Whether  it  was  work,  study,  or  play, 
everything  was  thoroughly  done.  And  this  quality 
served  him  better  than  teachers  or  money.  Judge 
Douglas,  his  political  antagonist,  said  of  him,  in  a 
speech  in  1858,  "  Lincoln  is  one  of  those  peculiar 
men  who  perform  with  admirable  skill  everything 
they  undertake."  It  was  just  as  true  of  him  at 
twelve  years  of  age  as  it  was  at  fifty. 

Then  his  studious  habits  and  love  of  books  made 
him  thoughtful,  discriminating,  and  stable.  In  this 
way  his  mental  powers  were  developed  with  his 
physical.  The  mind  and  the  Jjody  strengthened 
together.  Small  advantages  produced  great  results. 

Self-control  was  an  important  characteristic  of  his 
early  life.  He  did  not  use  profane  language  when 
other  boys  did.  He  would  forego  the  pleasures  of 


308  THE  PIONEER  BOY. 

companionship  to  assist  his  parents.  He  could  sac 
rifice  a  good  time  in  frolic  for  the  enjoyment  of 
reading  a  book.  Though  living  when  almost  every 
one  used  intoxicating  drinks,  he  kept  his  appetite 
in  subjection,  and  practised  remarkable  abstinence. 
Says  one  who  was  a  companion  with  him  from  ten 
to  twenty-two  years  of  age,  "  He  was  remarkably 
temperate.  In  all  the  gatherings  where  they  used 
intoxicating  liquors  (and  they  were  many)  I  never 
saw  him  take  the  smallest  dram." 

He  never  felt  above  his  business.  He  was  never 
ashamed  of  his  origin  or  his  poverty.  When  con 
sulted  with  regard  to  the  incidents  of  his  early  life, 
he  remarked :  "  You  can  find  the  whole  of  my  early 
life  in  a  single  line  of  Gray's  Elegy,  — 

'  The  short  and  simple  annals  of  the  poor.' " 

With  this  noble  spirit,  from  youth  to  age,  he  has 
pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  thereby  honor 
ing  himself,  and  adding  dignity  to  the  offices  he  has 
filled. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  connection  of  his  an 
cestors  with  the  hardships  and  struggles  of  the 
fathers  for  existence  and  independence,  made  known 
to  him  in  the  thrilling  tales  of  border  wars,  and 
Revolutionary  battles,  served  to  develop  that  cour 
age,  patriotism,  and  deep  interest  in  his  country's 
welfare  for  which  he  has  been  justly  honored. 

We  can   trace   a  connection,  also,  between   his 


CONCLUSION.  309 

early  instructions  and  experience  on  the  subject  of 
slavery,  and  that  honest  and  consistent  opposition  to 
the  cruel  system,  for  which  his  later  life  has  been 
distinguished.  He  has  ever  been  a  fearless  defender 
of  the  rights  of  humanity. 

The  small  library  that  he  enjoyed  in  his  early 
years  was  exactly  suited  to  make  him  the  man  that 
he  is.  The  Bible,  Pilgrim's  Progress,  JEsop's  Fables, 
Life  of  Washington,  Life  of  Franklin,  Life  of  Clay, 
and  Plutarch's  Lives,  —  what  books  more  suitable 
to  be  read  by  a  youth,  who  is  destined  to  act  a  con 
spicuous  part  in  the  history  of  his  country ! 

The  labors  and  hardships  of  his  early  life,  too, 
were  just  adapted  to  develop  his  physical  nature 
into  remarkable  powers  of  endurance,  as  if  a  wise 
Providence  was  preparing  him  for  the  responsibil 
ities  of  the  present  hour,  under  which  ordinary  con 
stitutions  would  fail. 

But,  more  than  all,  his  unquestioned  HONESTY 
reaches  back  from  the  present  to  his  artless  child 
hood.  The  fruit  of  maternal  guidance,  it  adorned  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  as  it  has  his  manhood  and  age. 
It  has  given  him  an  enviable  fame.  To  this  he 
owes  the  confidence  that  is  reposed  in  his  character. 
To  this  he  is  really  indebted  for  his  election  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  United  States.  It  aided  him,  at 
least,  very  materially,  in  working  his  way  from  the 
log-cabin  to  the  White  House.  The  times,  the  coun 
try,  our  destiny,  demanded  "  an  honest  man,  —  the 


310        »  THE   PIONEER  BOY. 

noblest  work  of  God."  And  such  was  the  Pioneer 
Boy  of  the  West,  whose  unblemished  youth  fore 
shadowed  the  strict  integrity  of  his  manhood.  In 
this  connection,  we  may  add,  that  a  person  who  has 
enjoyed  unusual  facilities  for  judging,  as  his  friend 
and  neighbor  for  many  years,  writes  as  follows  : 
"  I  have  known  him  long  and  well,  and  I  can  say, 
in  truth,  I  think  (take  him  altogether)  he  is  the 
best  man  I  ever  saw.  Although  he  has  never  made 
a  public  profession  of  religion,  I  nevertheless  believe 
that  he  has  the  fear  of  God  before  his  eyes,  and  that 
he  goes  daily  to  a  throne  of  grace,  and  asks  wisdom, 
light,  and  knowledge,  to  enable  him  faithfully  to 
discharge  his  duties." 

The  young  reader,  then,  cannot  fail  to  observe 
the  connection  between  his  early  and  later  life. 
The  man  is  what  the  boy  was.  As  he  sowed,  so  he 
reaps.  His  success  is  not  mere  luck,  —  it  is  the 
achievement  of  certain  qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 
And  in  this  regard,  his  life  is  a  bright  example  for 
the  youth  of  our  beloved  land  to  imitate.  View  it, 
reader,  —  study  it,  —  copy  it,  —  remembering  that, 
like  him,  you  must  be  the  "  artificer  of  your  own 
fortune,"  —  and  you  will  not  live  in  vain. 


THE  END. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


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